Today in History - December 25th

The First Christmas

1 - On this day in history, the First Christmas, according to calendar-maker Dionysus Exiguus, was celebrated.
274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian dedicated a temple to Sol Invictus on the supposed day of the winter solstice and day of rebirth of the Sun.
337 - Today in history was the earliest possible date that Christmas was celebrated on Dec 25th.
352 - First definite date Christmas was celebrated on Dec 25th.
0800 - On this day in history, Charlemagne was crowned first Holy Roman Emperor in Rome by Pope Leo III.
1066 - William the Conqueror was crowned king of England.
1223 - Today in history, St. Francis of Assisi assembled one of the first Nativity scenes, in Greccio, Italy.
1492 - Columbus' ship Santa Maria ran aground and sank on Hispaniola.
1643 - On this day in history, Christmas Island was founded and named by Captain William Mynors of the Royal Mary.

1776 - Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, NJ.
1917 - Today in history, "Why Marry?" the first dramatic play to win a Pulitzer Prize opened at the Astor Theatre in New York City.
1939 - On this day in history, "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens was read on CBS radio for the first time.
1962 - The Department of Commerce Census Clock in Washington, DC recorded the population of the US as 188,000,000.

MUSIC HISTORY - Today in History, December 25th

1818 - Today in history, "Silent Night" was performed for the first time, at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorff, Austria.
1896 - John Philip Sousa finally titled the melody "The Stars and Stripes Forever."
1931 - Lawrence Tibbett was the featured vocalist as radio came to the Met Opera House in New York City. The first opera was "Hansel und Gretel" and was heard on NBC stations.
1937 - On this day in history, Arturo Toscanini conducted the first broadcast of "Symphony of the Air" over NBC radio.
1959 - Richard Starkey, 18, who later would be known as Ringo Starr, received a drum set for Christmas.
1977 - Today in history, Harlem's Apollo Theater re-opened.
1978 - Abba's pre-recorded appearance on BBCI-TV's "Mike Yarwood Christmas Show" aired in Britain.
1990 - On this day in history, James Brown gave his first concert performance in two years for soldiers of Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Brown was on a 4-day furlough from prison.
1996 - "The People vs. Larry Flynt," starring Courtney Love was released.

1894 - Today in history, The University of Chicago became the first Midwestern football team to play on the west coast. U.C. defeated Stanford, 24-4, in Palo Alto, California.
1930 - The Mt. Van Hoevenberg bobsled run at Lake Placid, New York opened to the public. It was the first bobsled track of international specifications.