1524 – Died Vasco da Gama - a Portuguese navigator and explorer.
1777 - British Captain James Cook discovers Kiritimati (also called Christmas Island).
1951 - Libya becomes independent from Italy.
1968 - Apollo 8; enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed 10 lunar orbits and broadcast live TV pictures that became the famous Christmas Eve Broadcast, one of the most watched programs in history.
Christmas Eve in the Catholic religion
