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There are six days left in the year.
This is Christmas Day.
Today's Highlight in History:
- On Dec. 25, 1818, "Silent Night," written by Franz Gruber and Father Joseph Mohr, was performed for the first time, at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.
On this date:
- In 336, the first recorded celebration of Christmas on Dec. 25 took place in Rome.
- In 1066, William the Conqueror was crowned king of England.
- In 1776, Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, N.J.
- In 1926, Hirohito became emperor of Japan, succeeding his father, Emperor Yoshihito. (Hirohito was formally enthroned almost two years later.)
- In 1941, during World War II, Japan announced the surrender of the British-Canadian garrison at Hong Kong.
- In 1946, comedian W.C. Fields died in Pasadena, Calif., at age 66.
- In 1977, comedian Sir Charles Chaplin died in Switzerland at age 88.
- In 1989, ousted Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, were executed following a popular uprising.
- In 1991, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev went on television to announce his resignation as the eighth and final leader of a communist superpower that had already gone out of existence.
- In 2006, James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," died of heart failure in Atlanta at age 73.
Ten years ago:
- British mogul Richard Branson, American millionaire Steve Fossett and Per Lindstrand of Sweden gave up their attempt to make the first non-stop, round-the-world balloon flight seven days into their journey, ditching off Hawaii.
Five years ago:
- Sixteen people were killed by mudslides that swept over campgrounds in California's San Bernardino Valley.
- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf survived a second assassination bid in 11 days, but 16 other people, including three suicide bombers, were killed.
- A plane crashed after taking off from Benin, killing at least 130 of the 161 people aboard.
- Europe's tiny Mars lander, the Beagle 2, was supposed to go into orbit around the Red Planet, but the craft was lost.
One year ago:
- A tiger at the San Francisco Zoo escaped her enclosure and killed a park visitor; two brothers also were mauled, but survived.
- Russia's military successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads.
- A ruptured gasoline pipeline exploded near Nigeria's main city of Lagos, killing at least 40 people.
Today's Birthdays:
- Singer Tony Martin is 95.
- Actor Dick Miller is 80.
- Actress Hanna Schygulla is 65.
- Rhythm-and-blues singer John Edwards (The Spinners) is 64.
- Actor Gary Sandy is 63.
- Singer Jimmy Buffett is 62.
- Football Hall-of-Famer Larry Csonka is 62.
- Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 60.
- Actress Sissy Spacek is 59.
- Actress CCH Pounder is 56.
- Singer Annie Lennox is 54.
- Reggae singer-musician Robin Campbell (UB40) is 54.
- Country singer Steve Wariner is 54.
- Singer Shane MacGowan (The Popes) is 51.
- Baseball player Rickey Henderson is 50.
- Actress Klea Scott is 40.
- Rock musician Noel Hogan (The Cranberries) is 37.
- Singer Dido is 37.
- Rock singer Mac Powell (Third Day) is 36.
- Country singer Alecia Elliott is 26.
Thought for Today:
"
My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"
Bob Hope, American comedian (1903-2003).
"Let's all be careful out there!"
