December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are six days remaining until the end of the year. Christmas is celebrated on this day in many Christian and Western countries.
Events
Up to 1900
333 - Roman Emperor Constantine I promotes his youngest son Constans to the rank of Caesar.
1495 - Spanish forces defeat the Guanches, the native people of the Canary Islands, in the Battle of La Victoria de Acentejo - Tenerife is the last island to be taken over by Spain.
1553 - Battle of Tucapel: Mapuche rebels under Lautaro defeat the Spanish conquistadors and execute Governor of Chile Pedro de Valdivia.
1914 – Just after midnight on Christmas morning, German troops on the Western Front cease firing their guns and artillery and start singing Christmas carols. Crossing the No man's land, they trade gifts with the enemy forces that face them. The Christmas truce lasts for several days, depending on the location.
1968 - Apollo 8 performs the very first successful Trans-Earth injection maneuver, sending crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from lunarorbit.
1968 - 42 Dalits are burned alive in Kilavenmani village in Tamil Nadu, India, a retaliation for a campaign for higher wages from Dalit labourers. The Dalits are at the bottom of India's class system, which consists of castes.