28 fun facts for December, 24
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
On December 24th, people around the world celebrate Christmas Eve, enjoy National Eggnog Day, and reflect on historical events like George Washington crossing the Delaware River and the World War I Christmas truce. The day also marks the birthdays of famous figures like Louis Pasteur and Edwin Hubble, as well as events such as Libyan independence and the founding of the Kitt Peak National Observatory.
28 Fun facts
- National Eggnog Day: On December 24th, Americans and other countries celebrate National Eggnog Day to enjoy the festive, traditional holiday beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, and egg yolks.
- Christmas Eve: December 24th is Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas Day. It is widely celebrated across the globe with family gatherings, Midnight Mass, and various unique traditions across different countries.
- The Apollo 8 mission: On December 24, 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts delivered a live, televised Christmas Eve broadcast from lunar orbit, sharing views of Earth and the Moon and reading from the book of Genesis in the Bible.
- George Washington crosses the Delaware River: On December 24, 1776, George Washington made his famous crossing of the Delaware River with his troops during the American Revolution. This maneuver led to a decisive victory against the Hessian forces in the Battle of Trenton.
- USSR dissolves: On December 24, 1991, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union, leaving behind the Russian Federation and several independent countries.
- First US-produced Christmas film: In 1905, the first American-made Christmas movie, titled "The Night Before Christmas," was produced on this day, showcasing the poem by Clement Clarke Moore.
- Louis Pasteur's birthday: On December 24, 1822, French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur was born. He is best known for discovering the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization.
- Norse pagan festival "Modraniht": In pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon England, "Modraniht" or "Mother's Night" was celebrated on December 24th as an homage to the mothers and female ancestors who shaped their lives.
- “A Visit from St. Nicholas” published: On December 24, 1823, the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," was first published anonymously. It was later credited to Clement Clarke Moore in 1837.
- Fiji discovers New Zealand: Captain James Cook and his crewed British ship arrived at New Zealand on December 24, 1773, marking the European explorer's second visit to the South Pacific country.
- Libyan independence: On December 24, 1951, Libya became an independent nation after being under Italian and British control.
- Dr. William H. Dobelle's birthday: On December 24, 1941, Dr. William H. Dobelle, a pioneer in the development of artificial vision technology, was born. His work helped many blind people regain some functional vision.
- Walter Mittelholzer flies over Africa: Swiss aviator, Walter Mittelholzer, concluded his first transcontinental flight across Africa on December 24, 1926. He became the first European pilot to accomplish the feat.
- MGM Airport mall opens: On December 24, 1970, an indoor shopping mall opened at Los Angeles International Airport, making it the first airport to have a shopping complex.
- Giovanni Cassini's birthday: On December 24, 1625, Italian astronomer Giovanni Cassini was born. He discovered four moons of Saturn and observed the planet's rings, making significant contributions to understanding our solar system.
- French King François I releases “ordonnances”: On December 24, 1520, French King François I issued a list of “ordonnances” (instructions) to forbid the printing of the Bible by anyone other than the Catholic Church.
- The Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812: On December 24, 1814, the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium, ending the War of 1812.
- Edwin Hubble's birthday: On December 24, 1889, American astronomer Edwin Hubble was born. He is known for the discovery of galaxies beyond the Milky Way and showing that the universe is expanding.
- Swedish postal worker strike: On December 24, 1980, postal workers in Sweden went on strike, causing major disruptions to mail delivery during the Christmas season.
- World War I Christmas truce: On December 24-25, 1914, a series of unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front during World War I took place, as British and German soldiers crossed trenches to exchange holiday greetings and sing carols.
- First window glass factory in the United States: On December 24, 1761, ground was broken for America's first successful window glass factory in Maryland, forever changing domestic and industrial architecture.
- John Muir's birthday: On December 24, 1838, renowned naturalist John Muir was born. He was instrumental in establishing the US National Park System and inspired many to care for and protect the environment.
- Thomas Nelson Page's birthday: On December 24, 1853, American author Thomas Nelson Page was born. He was known for writing about the American South, particularly racial issues, during the latter half of the 19th century.
- Egypt readmitted to the Arab League: On December 24, 1989, Egypt was readmitted to the Arab League after a ten-year suspension due to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
- Jacques Delille's birthday: On December 24, 1738, French poet Jacques Delille was born. He was known for his eloquent translation of the "Georgics" by the Roman poet Virgil.
- John Tickle's birthday: On December 24, 1889, American inventor John Tickle was born. He was known for developing and patenting an improved version of the railroad switch.
- Nigeria shuffles cabinet: On December 24, 1992, Nigeria's president, Ibrahim Babangida, announced a significant cabinet reshuffle, including the appointment of a civilian as Minister of External Affairs.
- Kitt Peak National Observatory opening: On December 24, 1958, the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona was officially dedicated, marking an important milestone in the field of astronomy.