WEDNESDAY, Dec. 25, 2024

352-First definite date Christmas was celebrated on Dec.25

1643-Christmas Island founded and named by Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary

1741-Astronomer Anders Celsius introduces Centigrade temperature scale

1914-Legendary "Christmas Truce" takes place on the battlefields of WWI between British and German troops. Instead of fighting, soldiers exchange gifts and play football

1922-"Lenin's testament" - Vladimir Lenin dictates document criticizing his colleagues, suggests Stalin be removed as general secretary

1926-Crown Prince Hirohito of Japan assumes the throne upon his father, Emperor Yoshihito's, death

1965-U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson orders a halt to bombing operations in North Vietnam, hoping to spur peace talks

1971-Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) formed by Jesse Jackson

1991-Mikhail Gorbachev formally resigns as President of USSR in a televised speech

2009-Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo sentenced to 11 years in prison in Beijing, China for "inciting subversion of state power"