0352 — First definite date Christmas was celebrated on Dec 25th
1621 — Governor William Bradford of Plymouth forbids game playing on Christmas day
1741 — Astronomer Anders Celcius introduces Centigrade temperature scale
1818 — First known Christmas carol ("Silent Night, Holy Night" by Franz Joseph Gruber & Joseph Mohr) sung (Austria)
1831 — Louisiana & Arkansas are first states to observe Christmas as holiday
1837 — Battle of Okeechobee-U.S. forces defeat Seminole Indians
1926 — Hirohito becomes emperor of Japan (1926-1989)
1930 — First U.S. bobsled run open to the public (Mount Van Hoevenberg bobsled run at Lake Placid NY)
1936 — Belgian bishops condemn fascism & communism
1941 — Japan announces surrender of British-Canadian garrison at Hong Kong
1946 — Constitution accepted in Taiwan
1947 — Taiwan passes Human Rights laws (Day of Earth Law)
1971 — Worst hotel fire in history kills 163 at Taeyokale Hotel in Seoul
1983 — First live telecast of Christmas Parade
1989 — Japanese scientist achieves -271.8ºC, coldest temp ever recorded