5 Interesting Historic Events That Happened on Christmas Day

December 25th. It is the one day of the year that the world just stops. Nothing happens on Christmas day. Shops shut. Workers stay home. Nobody expects anyone to do anything.

However, when a historian scans through the countless significant events that have taken place over the last thousand years, we may discover many unexpected things that happened on Christmas Day, most of which have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas itself.

Let us take a moment to explore five such historic events. Maybe in the midst of our Yuletide festivities, we will spare a thought for the births, elections, deaths, and even coronations that memorably took place at Christmas.

It is not often that a new pope is elected on Christmas Day. Since the end of the Papacy of Saint Peter nearly 2,000 years ago, there is only one recorded occasion of a new Pope being elected on the 25th of December: Pope Pius IV, who reigned as Bishop of Rome from Christmas Day 1559 until his death.

Pope Pius IV was born Giovani Angelo Medici on March 31, 1499. Although he was born in Milan rather than in Florence, and although he had no clear connection to the most famous branch of the Médicis, his immediate family considered themselves part of the elite and even used the same coat of arms.

So we may ask, why is it that Pope Pius IV was elected on such a Holy festival as Christmas Day? The story begins with the death of Pope Paul IV, which occurred on August 18. A conclave, (the assembly of cardinals whose job it is to vote for a successor), was formed a few weeks later, on September 5.

It was not until 112 days later that a new pope was successfully elected. This may seem like a long time—it was actually the longest conclave of the 16th century—but there is actually no set duration for such a task. Despite common misconception, there is no time limit for the election of a new Pope, and theoretically, it should take as long as God wills it to take. 

In fact, when put in perspective with the other conclaves of fairly recent history, a three-month conclave does not sound particularly unusual. The longest conclave in history lasted just over two-and-a-half years, beginning in 1268. It was Pope Gregory X who was finally elected at the end of this arduous ordeal.

At the time of the conclave of 1559, there were 55 cardinals throughout Europe. Every one of these cardinals was summoned to the Vatican to attend the conclave. However, only 47 actually participated.

Some of the most prestigious names associated with this conclave included Jean du Bellay (Dean), Francois de Tournon (Sub-Dean), the Cardinal of Santa Fiora (Camerlengo), Robert de Lenoncourt (Protopriest), and Allesandro Farnese (Protodeacon).

Common sense tells us that, when you bring so many men of extreme power together into one assembly, they will split into factions. One of the strongest factions present at this conclave was the Spanish faction, which consisted of 17 cardinals headed by Cardinal Sforza. There were two other slightly smaller but equally strong factions, a French and Italian faction, consisting of 16 and 14 cardinals respectively.

It is also worth taking into account the fact that these cardinals were not motivated or inspired solely by spiritual matters. Each cardinal had someone back home that they were eager to please. For example, King Philip II of Spain favored Cardinal Carpi or Cardinal Morone for the job, and so the Spanish cardinals would almost certainly have kept this in mind. Such was the politics of the day that in some extreme cases, the votes they cast were actually a matter of life and death.

From September 5th until December 24th, 68 fruitless ballots were held. A two-thirds majority was (and still is) required to elect a new Pope. A common strategy at the beginning of a conclave was for a whole faction to split the numbers by voting for a random series of minor candidates. This was a delaying strategy: a foolproof way of putting off the election until more votes could be secured.

During this time, the number of cardinals in the conclave dropped from 47 to 44. Another indication of the length of the conclave is that one died in its midst, and another two had to leave due to illness.

Giovani Angelo Medici received a steady number of votes throughout the election process, but these began to increase rapidly towards the middle of December. We know that he voted, on various occasions, for a wide selection of other cardinals. Francis de Tournon, Rodolfo Pio di Capri, Pedro Pacheco de Vilena, Ercole Gonzaga, and Ippolito d’Este are just a few of the men he thought appropriate for the job.

We don’t know exactly what happened on the morning of December 25, 1559, but we do know that another vote was cast after Christmas morning Mass. Suddenly, but finally, the vote was practically unanimous. Giovani Angelo Medici received every vote except his own. 44 pieces of paper were collected; 43 of those had his name written on them.

Giovani Angelo Medici was installed on January 6, the following year, on the Feast of Epiphany, the last of the twelve days of Christmas. He took a papal name, Pius IV.

After six years in office, Pope Pius IV died on December 9, 1565. His death was a result of an infection that originated in the urinary tract. He was buried in the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels and of the Martyrs in Rome. After an extremely short time—a mere two weeks of the conclave—Pope Pius IV was succeeded by Pope Pius V on January 7, the following year.

What is the connection among this unlikely assortment of names?

The English organist and composer, Orlando Gibbons (1583); the world-famous physicist and astronomer, Isaac Newton (1642); the leader of the Papal States and Bishop of Rome, Pope Pius VI (1717); the American model and actress, Evelyn Nesbit (1884); the first female General of the Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth (1865); and the actor and star of Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart (1899).

Although it may not be obvious at first glance, each of these historical figures has something significant in common with one another. These individuals all share the birthdate of December 25. Yes, they all had the fortune—or misfortune—of being born on Christmas Day.

Another man to fall into this category is the 18th-century Baptist Minister, Christmas Evans. Like all the figures named before him, Christmas Evans was born on Christmas day, but in the winter of 1766.

Although he may not be particularly famous in certain corners of the modern world, he is still a household name in many parts of Britain, especially in Wales. Christmas Evans was, according to the Welsh Congregationalist Minister David Lloyd-Jones, “The greatest preacher that the Baptists have ever had in Great Britain.” The Dictionary of Welsh Biography states that Christmas Jones was “One of the most famous Welsh preachers,” and introduces the subject of his early life by informing the reader that “He was born at Llandysul, Cardiganshire, on Christmas Day 1766, as the son of Samuel Evans and Joanna his wife.” Rather appropriately, Samuel and Joanna Evans selected the name Christmas for their baby boy.

Christmas Evans had something of a rags-to-riches story. He had no education as a child, grew up unable to read or write, and worked as a laborer at a local farm. Life took a drastic turn for the better at the age of 17 when he was introduced to the Presbyterian Minister, David Davis. Christmas became David’s servant, and it was in this household that he learned not only to read and write but about religion too.

It was this schooling, and this inspirational environment, that allowed him to become one of the most popular Welsh speakers of his era.

Christmas Evans died in July of 1838, at the very beginning of the reign of Queen Victoria. The numbers that gathered for his funeral were unprecedented, and his funeral became one of the best attended in Welsh history.

In the year of 1909, a seven-volume work was compiled by the author Grenville Kleiser. The publication was entitled The World’s Greatest Sermons. The most famous sermon to have been written and delivered by Christmas Evans was included. The World As A Graveyard was the only entry in the collection by a Welsh preacher.

There is a legend—still extremely popular in Wales—that if a Welshman or woman should kiss the headstone of Christmas Evans on Christmas Day, they will receive a bout of good luck the following year.

To Christmas lovers of our generation, December 25 does not seem an appropriate choice of date for a coronation. In fact, it seems quite the opposite. However, historical records prove us wrong — in times gone by, it was considered the perfect date for such an event. Christmas Day was a surprisingly popular day for coronations, particularly in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Many rulers have been crowned on Christmas Day. Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day, 800. Baldwin of Boulogne was crowned the first king of Jerusalem on Christmas Day, 1100. Count Roger II of Sicily was crowned the first king of Sicily on Christmas Day, 1130. Henry III was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day, 1046. Boleslaw II the Generous was crowned King of Poland on Christmas Day, 1076.

Last but not least, William the Conqueror was crowned king of England on Christmas Day, 1066.

The event took place at Westminster Abbey; it was the first Coronation of an English or British monarch which can be proved to have been held in this location. Over the last millennia, every English or British monarch has been crowned at Westminster Abbey, with the exception of King Edward V and King Edward VIII, neither of whom were crowned at all.

Our most reliable source of information about William’s Coronation is a poem written by Guy, the Bishop of Amiens. The work is entitled Carmen de Hastingae Proelio, a celebration of the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings, and it was completed in around 1067. In the finale of this poetical epic, Guy gives a detailed description not only of the battle and its aftermath but also of the coronation ceremony itself.

According to Guy, the day began with a procession from the nearby Palace of Westminster. William was preceded by the two leading churchmen of the era: the Archbishop of Canterbury, Stigand, and the Archbishop of York, Ealdred. Ealdred also officiated at the coronation. The pair were accompanied by Geoffrey de Mountbray, the Norman Bishop of Coutances.

After the arrival of the procession at Westminster Abbey, William was seated on a raised dais. The idea was that the king should be physically and symbolically raised above his subjects. All of the traditional aspects of an English coronation followed — the chanting of the Kyrie, the anointing of the King with oil, and the swearing of the coronation oath. William promised that he would “Rule all his people as well as the best of kings before him, if they would be loyal to him.”

The coronation concluded with the customary investiture with the regalia and the enthronement of the king. Finally, Mass was said and a blessing was given.

A few years later, during Eastertide of 1070, William was crowned for a second time at Winchester Cathedral. Three papal legates were sent to confirm the acceptance of his rule by the Roman Catholic Church.

William the Conqueror was King of England from 1066 until his death in September of 1087. He was succeeded by his son, King William II.

Where can one begin when describing the Christmas Truce of 1914? There is little that can be said to do justice to its meaning or significance. Never has there been a greater example of the overwhelming and uniting power of the Christmas spirit. The idea that the shared experience of Christmas actually has the power to turn enemies into friends and even stop a war, if only for a couple of days, is both surreal and magical.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica explains the event in a few sentences: “The Christmas Truce (December 24th-25th, 1914), was an unofficial and impromptu ceasefire that occurred along the Western Front during World War I.”

The truce is thought to have started on Christmas Eve in 1914. Late in the evening, German troops began to sing Christmas carols, the first of which is typically thought to have been Silent Night, or Stille Nacht. Members of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), in the trenches directly opposite, were inspired to stop and listen. After a while, the British joined in with the carol singing. A combination of English and German lyrics blended together. Lanterns were lit, and verbal messages were passed between the opposing trenches.

The following day, early on Christmas morning, British and German soldiers met in no-man’s-land. The truce began with the most respectful and important acts of burying the dead and repairing supplies.

It was afterward that the simple festivities began. Not only did the men wish each other a Merry Christmas, but they also exchanged gifts, showed photographs of loved ones, shared food, talked of life back home, and even played games of football.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica tells us that “In the days following Christmas, violence returned to the Western Front, although the truce persisted until after New Year’s Day in some areas.” Although the truce was short, its impact should not be underestimated. Many officers feared that the truce would cause a rapid decrease in fighting spirit. There were worries—especially in areas where the truce continued into January—that it might actually end the war.

Despite the attempts of the soldiers, plans for a second truce on Christmas Day of 1915 were abruptly quashed. There were no further widespread ceasefires on the Western Front until the armistice of November 1918. Extra efforts were taken by both British and German officers to prevent any further contact between their men.

What makes the Christmas Truce of 1914 truly amazing is the amount of participants. Exactly the same thing happened in many areas along the Western Front. The pause was not universally observed, nor intentional, and nor had it been sanctioned by commanders on either side. It was solely the coming of Christmas Day that inspired the ceasefire. Along two-thirds of the 30-mile front, the guns fell silent for two days of peace.

The event has inspired films (Joyeux Noel, 2005), music (Pipes of Peace, Paul McCartney, 1983), and even Christmas commercials. In 2014, Sainsbury’s Supermarket teamed up with the Royal British Legion charity to create a three-and-a-half-minute video, commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the truce.

Countless historical figures have suffered the misfortune of dying on Christmas Day. The Spanish King, Henry III of Castile; the Bishop of Rome, Pope Adrian I; the American actor, W.C. Fields; the silent movie star, Charlie Chaplain; most recently, the death of the singer George Michael was announced on Christmas evening, 2016.

There is a notable woman of the 16th and 17th centuries who also falls into this category. Her name was Lettice Knollys, and she succumbed to old age on December 25, 1634. Lettice Knollys was an English noblewoman, a grandniece of former Queen Anne Boleyn, and a relation and close childhood friend of future Queen, Princess Elizabeth. She married three times, firstly to Walter Devereux (1st Earl of Essex), and thirdly to the younger Christopher Blunt.

It was her second marriage—her union with Robert Dudley—that incurred the unrelenting jealousy and hate of Queen Elizabeth I. Lettice Knolly’s romance with Robert Dudley, and her lifelong banishment from Queen Elizabeth’s royal court, is what she is now best remembered for.

Lettice Knollys had six children; five from her first marriage and one from her second. It was her two eldest daughters, Penelope and Dorothy Devereux, with whom she spent most of her time in her old age.

It was almost unheard of for a woman of her era, but Lettice was still fit and well at the age of 90. She was said to have walked more than a mile per day for the benefit of her health.

In life, Lettice Knollys had been admired as a symbol of a bygone age, and therefore in death, she was mourned by family, friends, and strangers alike.

Lettice Knollys wished to be buried “At Warwick by my dear lord and husband the Earl of Leicester with whom I desire to be entombed.” Her final request was respected and carried out, and she now rests in the Chapel of Collegiate Church of Saint Mary, Warwick, beside her husband and opposite the tomb of her son, the young Lord Denbigh.

Lettice Knollys remains one of the few significant women who lived through the reign of both Tudor and Stuart monarchs; she was born in 1543 during the reign of King Henry VIII, and she died in 1634 during the reign of King Charles I, seeing six Royal deaths and coronations in between.