336day.year
First documentary sign of Christmas celebration in Rome.
In 336 AD, the earliest recorded celebration of Christmas took place in Rome, marking the emergence of December 25th as a Christian feast day.
The Roman calendar of 336 AD provides the first documented reference to December 25th as the Feast of the Nativity. Under Pope Julius I, church officials formalized the celebration to commemorate Christ’s birth. This date was likely chosen to coincide with pagan winter festivals, aiding the transition to Christian worship. The adoption of December 25th spread gradually across the Roman Empire, blending local customs with liturgical observance. Early Christian communities marked the occasion with fasting, prayer, and special Masses. The institutionalization of Christmas on this date laid the foundation for centuries of religious and cultural traditions.
336
Christmas
597day.year
Augustine of Canterbury and his fellow-labourers baptise in Kent more than 10,000 Anglo-Saxons.
In 597 AD, Saint Augustine of Canterbury and his companions baptized over 10,000 Anglo-Saxons in Kent, advancing Christian mission in England.
Sent by Pope Gregory the Great, Augustine of Canterbury led the Gregorian Mission to convert England’s pagan tribes. Within weeks of arriving in Kent, Augustine and his fellow missionaries baptized thousands in the River Stour. The mass conversion ceremony at Ebbsfleet involved King Æthelberht of Kent and his court, marking a royal endorsement of Christianity. This event marked a critical turning point for the Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England. Augustine later became the first Archbishop of Canterbury, establishing the ecclesiastical structure that endured for centuries. The mission’s success laid the groundwork for the spread of Roman Christianity throughout the British Isles.
597
Augustine of Canterbury
Kent
Anglo-Saxons
1814day.year
Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at Rangihoua Bay.
Reverend Samuel Marsden led the first Christian service on New Zealand soil at Rangihoua Bay.
On December 25, 1814, Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden conducted the first recorded Christian worship service on land in New Zealand.
Held at Rangihoua Bay on the North Island, the gathering included local Māori and settlers.
Marsden’s sermon, preached in both English and Māori, marked the beginning of organized Christian missions in the region.
This event laid the foundation for extensive missionary activity and cultural exchange in New Zealand.
It remains a significant milestone in the nation’s religious and social history.
1814
Samuel Marsden
Rangihoua Bay
1826day.year
The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy concludes after beginning the previous evening.
The notorious Eggnog Riot at the U.S. Military Academy concluded after cadets' Christmas Eve celebrations spiraled out of control.
On December 25, 1826, the chaotic Eggnog Riot at West Point formally ended, having erupted the previous evening.
Cadets smuggled whiskey into a Christmas celebration, leading to drunken brawls and property damage.
The incident exposed disciplinary weaknesses at the young Military Academy and prompted reforms.
Over 20 cadets faced court-martial, and strict regulations on alcohol were enforced thereafter.
The riot remains a colorful episode in the history of United States Military Academy life.
1826
Eggnog Riot
United States Military Academy
1927day.year
B. R. Ambedkar and his followers burn copies of the Manusmriti in Mahad, Maharashtra, to protest its treatment of Dalit people.
In December 1927, B.R. Ambedkar led a public burning of the Manusmriti in Mahad to denounce caste discrimination against Dalits.
On December 25, 1927, Dalit leader Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and hundreds of followers gathered at Mahad to challenge the authority of the Manusmriti.
The ancient legal text sanctioned caste hierarchies, relegating Dalits to untouchable status and stripping them of basic rights.
By dramatically setting fire to the sacred volumes, Ambedkar symbolized a rejection of oppressive traditions and asserted Dalit dignity.
The act galvanized the Dalit rights movement, inspiring social reforms and greater political activism across India.
Though authorities arrested Ambedkar for sedition, the protest spotlighted the urgent need to abolish untouchability.
This event remains a cornerstone of India’s struggle for equality and the fight against caste-based injustice.
1927
B. R. Ambedkar
Manusmriti
Mahad
Maharashtra
Dalit
1951day.year
A bomb explodes at the home of Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. S. Moore, early leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, killing Harry instantly and fatally wounding Harriette.
On December 25, 1951, a bomb destroyed the home of civil rights activists Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. S. Moore in Florida, killing Harry and injuring Harriette.
Harry T. Moore and his wife Harriette were prominent figures in the early Civil Rights Movement and founders of the Florida NAACP. Their home in Mims, Florida, was targeted by a racially motivated bombing on Christmas night. Harry died instantly, and Harriette succumbed to her injuries nine days later. This tragic act of domestic terrorism highlighted the violent resistance faced by African American activists in the Jim Crow South. The attack drew national outrage and helped galvanize support for civil rights causes across the country.
1951
explodes
Harry T. Moore
Harriette V. S. Moore
Civil Rights Movement
1963day.year
Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio begins transmitting in Cyprus after Turkish Cypriots are forcibly excluded from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
On December 25, 1963, Turkish Cypriots launched Bayrak Radio to serve their community after exclusion from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
In the wake of intercommunal tensions on the island of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots established Bayrak Radio to serve their community's information needs. The new station provided news, cultural programming, and political commentary in Turkish, fostering a distinct Turkish Cypriot identity. Operating from Nicosia, Bayrak quickly became a crucial platform amid the island's growing division. Its inception reflected broader social and political struggles between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Today, Bayrak remains a symbol of media representation and resilience in the face of conflict.
1963
Bayrak
Cyprus
Turkish Cypriots
Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
1996day.year
The body of American child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found in her family's Boulder, Colorado, home. Her murder remains unsolved.
On December 25, 1996, the body of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was discovered in her family home, launching one of America's most enduring mysteries.
Christmas Day 1996 brought shock and sorrow to Boulder, Colorado, when authorities found the body of child beauty pageant hopeful JonBenét Ramsey in her family's basement. A ransom note demanding $118,000 complicated the investigation and fueled media frenzy. Despite extensive forensic work, suspects, and numerous theories, her killer has never been conclusively identified. The case exposed both the pitfalls of early crime scene handling and the public's fascination with high-profile crimes. Decades later, forensic advances continue to offer hope for answers in this unsolved tragedy.
1996
JonBenét Ramsey was found
Boulder, Colorado