The Diverse History of December 24th
This Day in History. Explore the history of December 24th. From the start of NORAD’s Santa tracking service to significant births and…
This Day in History
December 24th is a significant day in history for a number of reasons. One of the most well-known events that occurred on this day is the start of NORAD’s Santa tracking service in 1955.
This annual tradition involves the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracking Santa Claus as he travels around the world delivering presents to children on Christmas Eve.
The event began after a printing error in a Sears catalog asking children to call Santa Claus, which resulted in children calling the number of Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center.
In addition to the start of the Santa tracking service, December 24th has also seen important political events, such as the independence of Libya from Italy in 1951 and the creation of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist organization, in 1865.
This day has also seen significant births and deaths, including the births of prominent figures such as Stephenie Meyer, Ricky Martin, and Hamid Karzai, and the deaths of John Muir, William M. Branham, Samael Aun Weor, and Harold Pinter. Overall, December 24th is a day with a diverse and significant history that has had a lasting impact on the world.
December 24 Events of the past:
1166: John Lackland, King of England is born. John was King of England from 1199 to 1216. He was the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine and succeeded his brother, Richard the Lionheart, as king.
1524, Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, dies in Cochin, India. Da Gama is best known for being the first European to reach India by sea, leading the first Portuguese voyage to India in 1497. This voyage was a major achievement in the Age of Discovery and opened up a new trade route between Europe and Asia. In addition to his role in exploration, Da Gama also played a significant role in the establishment of Portuguese colonies in India and other parts of Asia, which had a lasting impact on the culture and history of these regions.
1868: Emanuel Lasker is born. Emanuel Lasker was a German chess player, mathematician, and philosopher who was the World Chess Champion for 27 years (from 1894 to 1921). He is considered one of the greatest chess players of all time.
1826: The Eggnog riots begin at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. The Eggnog riots were a series of disturbances that took place at the United States Military Academy on Christmas Eve of 1826. The riots were caused by cadets who had consumed copious amounts of eggnog made with smuggled whiskey. The riots lasted until December 25.
1865: The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is created in Pulaski, Tennessee. The KKK is a white supremacist hate group that the Confederate Army veterans founded. The KKK has a long history of terrorism and violence against African Americans and other minority groups.
1914: The Christmas Truce begins, and John Muir dies. The Christmas Truce was a brief unofficial ceasefire that took place between British and German troops along the Western Front of World War I on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 1914. During the truce, soldiers from both sides sang carols, shared food, exchanged gifts, and played football (soccer). The Christmas Truce is now a much-studied event in war and peace studies. John Muir was a Scottish-American environmentalist, author, and activist who is best known for his work to preserve natural habitats in the United States. He founded the Sierra Club, a prominent environmental organization, and his writings have had a lasting impact on the conservation movement.
1951: Libya gains independence from Italy. Libya is a country in North Africa that Italy colonized in 1912. In 1951, Libya gained independence from Italy and became a constitutional monarchy under King Idris. In 1969, King Idris was overthrown in a military coup led by Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya until his death in 2011.
1955 NORAD’s Santa tracking service begins: The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks Santa Claus as he travels around the world delivering presents to children. This event began after a printing error in a Sears catalog asked children to call Santa Claus. The number that was printed was the number of Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center.
1957: Hamid Karzai is born. Hamid Karzai is an Afghan politician who served as the 12th President of Afghanistan from 2004 to 2014. He played a key role in the establishment of the interim government of Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
1971: Ricky Martin is born. Ricky Martin is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor who is best known for his Latin pop music and his role on the TV show “General Hospital.” He has released numerous hit albums and singles and has won numerous awards for his music and acting.
1973: Stephenie Meyer is born. Stephenie Meyer is an American author and film producer best known for her “Twilight” series of young adult vampire romance novels. The “Twilight” series was adapted into a series of successful films and has a large and dedicated fan base.
1965: William M. Branham dies. William M. Branham was an American minister and faith healer who was a prominent figure in the Pentecostal movement in the mid-20th century. He was known for his controversial teachings and claims of divine revelation.
1977: Samael Aun Weor dies. Samael Aun Weor was a Colombian author and spiritual teacher who founded the Gnostic movement known as the Modern Gnostic School. He wrote numerous books on spirituality and mysticism and claimed to have attained enlightenment.
2008: Harold Pinter dies. Harold Pinter was an English playwright, screenwriter, director, actor, and Nobel Prize, laureate. He was one of the leading figures in modern British theatre, known for his plays that explored the psychological depths of characters and the effects of power and control on human relationships. Pinter was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2005 for his “writing which, in a broad field of theater, illuminates the existence of the human being.”
December 24th is a day that has had a diverse and significant impact on history. From the start of NORAD’s Santa tracking service to the independence of Libya and the creation of the Ku Klux Klan, this day has seen a range of important events that have shaped the world we know today. It has also been a day of significant births and deaths, with many notable figures being born or passing away on this day.
As we look back on the events of December 24th, it is clear that this day has had a lasting impact on the world and will continue to be remembered for generations to come.
If you’re interested in learning more about the rich and varied history of this day, we encourage you to come back and explore the events of December 24th.
“The power of imagination makes us infinite.” — John Muir
