Tatmadaw
Burmese military forces killed at least 40 civilians during the Mo So massacre in Kayah State, Myanmar.
What happened on December 24
37 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 759 to 2024.
Standout on December 24
2021
Tatmadaw
Burmese military forces killed at least 40 civilians during the Mo So massacre in Kayah State, Myanmar.
About December 24
December 24 is the 358th day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 358 of 365 (359 in leap years)7 days left in the year (7 in leap years)
- Falls on
- Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029, Tuesday in 2030
- Week
- ISO week 52 of 2026 · Q4
- Zodiac sign
- ♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
- Season
- Winter in the north · Summer in the south
- December birthstone
- Turquoise / Tanzanite / Zircongood fortune, wisdom and success
- December birth flower
- Narcissus / Holly / Poinsettiarespect, hope and good wishes
- Next occurrence
- In 58 days
- Roman numerals
- XXIV.XIIday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 60thCanadair CL-441966
- 30thLearjet 351996
- 25thChoi Sung-beom2001
- 10thBen Xi2016
- 10thLiz Smith (actress)2016
- 10thRichard Adams2016
- 10thRick Parfitt2016
- 5thTatmadaw2021
December 24 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- Ben Xi · Richard Adams · Rick Parfitt
- 25 years ago2001
- Choi Sung-beom
- 50 years ago1976
- Nothing recorded
- 100 years ago1926
- Nothing recorded
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on December 24 — ages this year
- 2002Joshua Primoturns 24
- 2002Jeremiah Trotter Jr.turns 24
- 2001Choi Sung-beomturns 25
- 1998Alexis Mac Allisterturns 28
- 1997Neeraj Chopraturns 29
- 1997William Contrerasturns 29
Historical events 37
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
2018 Puebla helicopter crash
A helicopter crash kills Martha Érika Alonso, first female Governor of Puebla, Mexico, and her husband Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas, former governor.
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel group, began attacks on several villages in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing hundreds and committing numerous atrocities.
Chad–Sudan relations
Chad–Sudan relations: Chad declares a state of belligerence against Sudan following a December 18 attack on Adré, which left about 100 people dead.
ETA (separatist group)
The Spanish police thwart an attempt by ETA to detonate 50 kg of explosives at 3:55 p.m. inside Madrid's busy Chamartín Station.
Indian Airlines Flight 814
Indian Airlines Flight 814 is hijacked in Indian airspace between Kathmandu, Nepal, and Delhi, India. The aircraft landed at Kandahar in Afghanistan. The incident ended on December 31 with the release of 190 survivors (one passenger is killed).
Jihadism
Jihadists linked to al-Qaeda hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 to force the release of Islamist figures held in prison in India.
Sid El-Antri massacre
The Sid El-Antri massacre in Algeria kills between 50 and 100 people.
Learjet 35
A Learjet 35 crashes into Smarts Mountain near Dorchester, New Hampshire, killing both pilots on board.
Air France Flight 8969
Air France Flight 8969 is hijacked on the ground at Houari Boumediene Airport, Algiers, Algeria. Over the course of three days three passengers are killed, as are all four terrorists.
Aeroflot Flight 601
Aeroflot Flight 601 crashes during takeoff from Leshukonskoye Airport, Russia, killing 44 of the 49 people on board.
Ariane 1
The first Ariane 1 rocket is launched from ELA-1 at the Guiana Space Centre.
Soviet–Afghan War
The Soviet government deployed troops in Afghanistan, starting the Soviet–Afghan War.
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin, Australia.
United States Congress
The U.S. Congress granted home rule to Washington, D.C., allowing the residents to elect their own mayor and a city council.
District of Columbia Home Rule Act
District of Columbia Home Rule Act is passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government.
LANSA Flight 508
LANSA Flight 508 is struck by lightning and crashes in the Puerto Inca District in the Department of Huánuco in Peru, killing 91.
Umuahia
Nigerian troops capture Umuahia, the Biafran capital.
Allegheny Airlines Flight 736
Allegheny Airlines Flight 736 crashes on approach to Bradford Regional Airport, killing 20.
Jim Lovell
Piloted by Jim Lovell, Apollo 8 became the first human spaceflight to reach and orbit the Moon (Earthrise pictured).
Apollo program
Apollo program: The crew of Apollo 8 enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed ten lunar orbits, took the Earthrise photograph, broadcast live TV pictures, and read the first ten verses of Genesis.
Canadair CL-44
A Canadair CL-44 chartered by the United States military crashes into a small village in South Vietnam, killing 111.
Viet Cong
The Viet Cong bombed the Brinks Hotel in Saigon, killing two U.S. Army officers and raising fears of an escalation of the Vietnam War.
Vietnam War
Vietnam War: Viet Cong operatives bomb the Brinks Hotel in Saigon, South Vietnam to demonstrate they can strike an American installation in the heavily guarded capital.
Flying Tiger Line Flight 282
Flying Tiger Line Flight 282 crashes after takeoff from San Francisco International Airport, killing three.
NORAD Tracks Santa
According to legend, the NORAD Tracks Santa program began after children began calling the Continental Air Defense Command Center to inquire about Santa Claus's whereabouts due to a misprinted phone number in an advertisement.
North Island
A railway bridge at Tangiwai on New Zealand's North Island was damaged by a lahar and collapsed beneath a passenger train (wreckage pictured), killing 151 people.
Winnie-the-Pooh
Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by name in a children's story in the London Evening News.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Forces united in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes defeated Hungarian forces to end the occupation of Međimurje.
World War I
World War I: British and German soldiers interrupted fighting to celebrate Christmas, beginning the Christmas truce .
Italian Hall disaster
Seventy-three people were crushed to death in a stampede after someone falsely yelled "fire" at a crowded Christmas party in Calumet, Michigan, U.S.
Aida
Aida, one of Giuseppe Verdi's most popular operas, made its debut in Cairo, Egypt.
Confederate States Army
Six Confederate veterans of the American Civil War founded a social club they named the Ku Klux Klan, which later became a white supremacist group.
Sultanate of Brunei (1368–1888)
The Sultanate of Brunei ceded the island of Labuan to the British Empire.
Christmas carol
The Christmas carol "Silent Night" (audio featured) by Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber was first performed in a church in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.
Treaty of Ghent
The United Kingdom and the United States signed a peace treaty in Ghent, present-day Belgium, ending the War of 1812.
Tang dynasty
The Tang-dynasty poet Du Fu departed for Chengdu, where he lived for the next five years and composed poems about life in his thatched cottage.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Cheri Barry
Cheri Barry, American politician and mayor of Meridian, Mississippi (born 1955)
Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas
Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas, former governor of Puebla (born 1968)
Adriana Olguín
Adriana Olguín, Chilean lawyer and politician, Chilean Minister of Justice (born 1911)
Turid Birkeland
Turid Birkeland, Norwegian businesswoman and politician, Norwegian Minister of Culture (born 1962)
Holidays & observances 8
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
Yule and Christmas in Denmark
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Juleaften (Denmark)/Julaften (Norway)/Julafton (Sweden)
Christmas in Iceland
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lad arrives to towns. (Iceland)
Irmina of Oeren
Christian feast day: Adela and Irmina
Nittel Nacht
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Nittel Nacht (certain Orthodox Jewish denominations)
Feast of the Seven Fishes
Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italian Americans)
December 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: December 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Paola Elisabetta Cerioli
Christian feast day: Paola Elisabetta Cerioli
Adam
Christian feast day: Adam and Eve
Spread across the centuries
- 8th century1
- 19th century5
- 20th century43
- 21st century28
Earliest: Tang dynasty (759). Most recent: Richard Perry (2024).
What the categories mean, and how the standout is chosen
- Historical events
- A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Births
- A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
- Deaths
- A notable person who died on this day.
- Milestones
- A first, a founding or a turning point our editors flagged as a landmark moment.
- Holidays & observances
- A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
- Standout / notable
- Editor-written entries come first, then entries covered by the most Wikipedia language editions. For the standout tile we prefer an entry that has a picture.
Nearby and related
Questions about December 24
What day of the year is December 24?
December 24 is the 358th day of the year, with 7 days left after it.
What star sign is December 24?
December 24 falls under Capricorn (December 22 – January 19), a earth sign ruled by Saturn. The birthstone for the month is Turquoise or Tanzanite or Zircon.
How many things happened on December 24?
We record 85 entries for December 24: 37 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 759 to 2024.
Who was born on December 24?
Joshua Primo (2002) is among the notable births on December 24. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the December 24 page updated?
The day is filled the first time anyone opens it and then re-checked for new entries about every 90 days. Computed facts such as the weekday and the anniversaries update every year.
Get a daily entry like December 24
One short email a day from this calendar. Kept for this site only.
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