It happened on a… December 24

Panama’s dictator, Manual Noriega, seeks asylum at Vatican embassy.

Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in support of the country’s Marxist government.

Walt Disney’s « Aristocats » is released.

For the first time ever, a midnight Mass was broadcast on television. It was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

Henry Ford completes his first useful petrol / gasoline fuelled engine

Giusseppi Verdi’s « Aida » opera premieres in Cairo.

Several veterans of the Confederate Army formed a private social club in Pulaski, TN, called the Ku Klux Klan.

Franz Gruber of Oberndorf, Germany composed the music for « Silent Night » to words written by Josef Mohr.

Sieur de Maisonneuve climbs Mount Royal and plants a cross on the summit.