On Christmas Day in History

Christmas Day itself has seen a number of historical events across the ages. Pinpoint the sites of some of our nation’s festive history right here.

0597 England adopts Julian calendar

1066 William The Conqueror crowned King William I.

1621 Governor William Bradford of Plymouth forbids game playing on Christmas day.

1914 Legendary unofficial 'Christmas truce' takes place between the British & Germans on the front line.

1950 Stone of Destiny or Stone of Scone taken from Westminster Abbey.

1952 The Queen makes her first Christmas speech from Sandringham House

1977 Charlie Chaplin, dies at his home in Switzerland.

1989 Deposed Romanian president Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena are shot after being found guilty of crimes against the state.

Celebrity birthdays

Christmas Day is extra special for a number of celebrities born on 25^th December. We show you exactly where these famous stars made their first public appearance.

1642 Sir Isaac Newton, Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire.

1954 Annie Lennox, Aberdeen.

1971 Dido, Singer, London

1583 Orlando Gibbons, English composer, Oxford

1721 William Collins, Mayor of Chichester and poet, Chichester, England.

1750 John "Christmas" Beckwith, composer, Norwich.

1771 Dorothy Wordsworth, Cockermouth, Cumberland.

1875 Walter Lees, Surry cricketer, Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire.

1908 Quentin Crisp, actor, South Wimbledon.

1936 Princess Alexandra of Kent, wife of Sir Angus Ogilvy, Belgrave Square.

1944 Kenny Everett, Liverpool.

1954 Robin Campbell, singer UB40, Birmingham.

1957 Shane McGowan, The Pogues, Kent.

Back to the Christmas home page