December 25th – This Day in History

Not only is today Christmas, but it is a significant day in world history.  From film to birthdays to world events, this day holds special meaning.

Here are some of the most significant things that happened on December 25th, throughout history

This Day, December 25th

Cinema

• 20 Years Ago Today, December 25, 1997, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Deniro that even fake war can seem real with the theatrical release of “Wag the Dog”
• December 25, 1963 Walt Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone” is released
• 55 Years Ago Today, December 25, 1962 “To Kill a Mockingbird”, a film adaptation of the novel by Harper Lee, directed by Robert Mulligan and starring Gregory Peck, is released (Gregory Peck – Best Actor Academy Awards 1963)
• December 25, 1973 “The Sting” directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford premieres in Los Angeles and New York (Best Picture 1974)
• December 25, 2013 “The Wolf of Wall Street”, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, is released

Births

• 375 Years Ago Today, December 25, 1642, Sir Isaac Newton was born
• 99 Years Ago Today, December 25, 1918, Former Egyptian Leader Anwar Sadat was born
• Today would mark the 196th birthday of Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross born December 25, 1821 in New Oxford, Massachusetts
• Believe it or Not, Robert Ripley was born December 25, 1890
• “Here’s Lookin’ at You Kid” – Humphrey Bogart born December 25, 1899
• You have not entered the “Twilight Zone”, but Rod Serling, writer and host was born December 25, 1924
• Come Monday, it’ll be alright…. Jimmy Buffett is celebrating 71 years today, born December 25, 1946
• Don’t mess with Carrie…. Sissy Spacek celebrates 68 years, born December 25, 1949
• Don’t blink or he will steal your base – Baseball legend and stolen base leader Rickey Henderson was born on December 25, 1958
• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau turns 46 today (December 25, 1971)

Deaths

• 40 years ago today, we said goodbye to Silent Film pioneer Charlie Chaplin who died on December 25, 1977
• On December 25, 1989, we tragically lost Baseball great Billy Martin at age 61
• On December 25, 1995, Dean Martin gave his last bow at age 78
• It was 11 years ago today, December 25, 2006, we said farewell to the great James Brown
• 1 Year ago, George Michael left this Earth, December 25, 2016

Historic Events

• December 25, 1741 Astronomer Anders Celsius introduces Centigrade temperature scale
• December 25, 1776 George Washington crosses Delaware, surprises and defeats 1,400 Hessians
• December 25, 1831 Louisiana & Arkansas are first states to observe Christmas as holiday
• December 25, 1868 Despite bitter opposition, US President Andrew Johnson grants unconditional pardon to all persons involved in Southern rebellion (Civil War)
• December 25, 1926 Prince-regent Hirohito becomes Emperor of Japan (1926-1989) upon the death of his father Yoshihito
• December 25, 1977 Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meets Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in Egypt
• December 25, 1990 The first successful trial run of the system which would become the World Wide Web
• December 25, 1991 Mikhail Gorbachev formally resigns as President of USSR in a televised speech
• December 25, 1999 Comedian Jerry Seinfeld (45) marries PR executive Jessica Sklar (28)

Enjoy this little Christmas Day HIstory Lesson