Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
December 24 Thursday, December 24, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 24 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
971
War 1055 years ago
Battle of Ayn Shams: The Fatimids under Jawhar defeat the Qarmatians at the gates of Cairo, putting an end to the First Qarmatian invasion of Egypt.
The Fatimid army led by Jawhar defeats the Qarmatians at Ayn Shams near Cairo, ending the First Qarmatian invasion of Egypt.
History
What happened on December 24
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 502World history
Chinese emperor Xiao Yan names Xiao Tong his heir designate.
Xiao Tong is named heir designate by Emperor Xiao Yan.
- 640Religion
Pope John IV is elected, several months after his predecessor's death.
Pope John IV is elected to succeed his deceased predecessor.
- 759Culture
Tang dynasty poet Du Fu departs for Chengdu, where he is hosted by fellow poet Pei Di.
Du Fu leaves for Chengdu, where he is welcomed and supported by the poet Pei Di.
- 971War
Battle of Ayn Shams: The Fatimids under Jawhar defeat the Qarmatians at the gates of Cairo, putting an end to the First Qarmatian invasion of Egypt.
The Fatimid army led by Jawhar defeats the Qarmatians at Ayn Shams near Cairo, ending the First Qarmatian invasion of Egypt.
- 1144War
The capital of the crusader County of Edessa falls to Imad ad-Din Zengi, the atabeg of Mosul and Aleppo.
Edessa, the capital of the Crusader county, falls to Imad ad-Din Zengi, weakening Christian presence in the region.
- 1294Religion
Pope Boniface VIII is elected, replacing St. Celestine V, who had resigned.
Pope Boniface VIII is elected, succeeding St. Celestine V, who had resigned just months earlier in an unprecedented papal abdication.
- 1500European history
A joint Venetian-Spanish fleet captures the Castle of St. George on the island of Cephalonia.
A joint Venetian-Spanish fleet seizes the Castle of St. George on Cephalonia, securing Venetian control over the strategically important Ionian island.
- 1737War
The Marathas defeat the combined forces of the Mughal Empire, Rajputs of Jaipur, Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab of Awadh and Nawab of Bengal in the Battle of Bhopal.
The Marathas defeat a coalition including the Mughal Empire and regional rulers at the Battle of Bhopal.
- 1777World history
Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is discovered by James Cook.
James Cook discovers Kiritimati, renaming it Christmas Island.
- 1814US history
Representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.
The Treaty of Ghent is signed, ending the war between the United Kingdom and the United States.
- 1826US history
The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy begins that night, wrapping up the following morning.
Cadets at West Point stage a rebellion over eggnog, marking one of the academy's earliest disciplinary incidents.
- 1929Crime
Assassination attempt on Argentine President Hipólito Yrigoyen.
Hipólito Yrigoyen escapes an assassination attempt when a bomb explodes near his carriage during a parade.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 24
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 57
Pernille Fischer Christensen
Danish director and screenwriter
Pernille Fischer Christensen, Danish film director and screenwriter who began her career at 20 as an assistant to Tómas Gislason, turns 57 today.
Born
1969
Turns 57
today
Dave Bartholomew
American bandleader, composer and arranger
1918 – 2019
William C. Schneider
American aerospace engineer
1923 – 1999
Tarja Halonen
Finnish lawyer and politician, 11th President of Finland
b. 1943 · 83
Ricky Martin
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and actor
b. 1971 · 55
Tomas Kalnoky
Czech-American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1980 · 46
Neeraj Chopra
Indian javelin thrower
b. 1997 · 29
Music
The number one songs on December 24
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 24, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport December 24, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 24, 1979
The first Ariane 1 rocket is launched from ELA-1 at the Guiana Space Centre.
The Ariane 1 rocket is launched from ELA-1 in French Guiana, marking the beginning of Europe's independent access to space.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lad arrives to towns. (Iceland)
International
Christmas in Iceland (Jól) starts four weeks before proper Christmas, which begins on 24 December (Aðfangadagur) and ends thirteen days later on 6 January
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italian Americans)
International
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian American celebration of Christmas Eve with dishes of fish and other seafood
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Juleaften (Denmark)/Julaften (Norway)/Julafton (Sweden)
International
Jul, the Danish Jule and Christmas, is celebrated throughout December starting either at the beginning of Advent, which is usually around 1 December, with a variety of traditions
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Nittel Nacht (certain Orthodox Jewish denominations)
International
Nittel Nacht or Nittel is a name given to Christmas Eve by Jewish scholars as early as the late 16th century
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Nochebuena (Spain and Spanish-speaking countries)
International
Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: The Declaration of Christmas Peace (Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City)
International
Christmas Peace is a traditional Finnish event whereby a town formally announces the beginning of the Christmas season