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Here are some of the most notable military actions that have occurred on Christmas Day:

Battle of Trenton (1776) -
General George Washington led his troops across the Delaware River for a surprise attack on the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. This victory boosted morale and was a turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

Christmas Truce (1914) -
During World War I, an unofficial ceasefire between British and German troops led to soldiers fraternizing, exchanging gifts, and even playing football in no man's land. It's one of the most famous examples of peace amid war.

Operation Linebacker II (1972) -
Known as the "Christmas Bombings," this was a heavy bombing campaign by the U.S. Air Force against North Vietnam. It was ordered by President Nixon after peace talks collapsed and aimed to force North Vietnam back to the negotiating table.

Hungnam Evacuation (1950) -
Also known as the "Miracle of Christmas," this was a massive operation during the Korean War where over 100,000 UN troops and South Korean refugees were evacuated from Hungnam, North Korea, to safety.

Siege of Bastogne (1944) -
During the Battle of the Bulge, American forces held out against German attacks in Bastogne, Belgium. Their resilience, symbolized by General McAuliffe's famous "Nuts!" response to a German surrender demand, was a critical moment in WWII.

Crowning of William the Conqueror (1066) -
William of Normandy was crowned King of England on Christmas Day at Westminster Abbey, marking the end of Anglo-Saxon rule and the beginning of Norman control.

Treaty of Ghent (1814) -
This treaty, signed on Christmas Eve but effective from Christmas Day, ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, although the news hadn't reached the troops at the Battle of New Orleans in time.

Proclamation 179 by Andrew Johnson (1868) -
On Christmas Day, President Andrew Johnson issued a proclamation granting amnesty to all Confederate soldiers, effectively ending Reconstruction-era restrictions.

Apollo 8 Mission (1968) -
While not a military action, it's significant as astronauts orbiting the moon read from the Book of Genesis on Christmas Eve, marking a peaceful moment amidst global tensions.

Invasion of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1941) -
Free French forces under Admiral Émile Muselier captured this French archipelago near Canada from Vichy control, giving legitimacy to de Gaulle's movement.

Other notable mentions include:

Christmas Day Amnesties -
Various amnesties were issued on Christmas Day throughout history, like in 1906 when President Theodore Roosevelt pardoned several Native American leaders.

Here are [20] notable events that occurred on Christmas Day across history:

336 AD - First Documented Celebration of Christmas: The first known celebration of Christmas on December 25 occurred in Rome during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great.

800 AD - Charlemagne Crowned Emperor: Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as “Emperor of the Romans” at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, marking the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire.

1066 - William the Conqueror Crowned King of England: Following his victory at the Battle of Hastings, William, Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.

1776 - Washington Crosses the Delaware: General George Washington led his troops across the icy Delaware River on Christmas night to launch a surprise attack on Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War.

1818 - “Silent Night” First Sung: The famous Christmas carol was first performed in the village of Oberndorf, Austria.

1868 - President Andrew Johnson Pardons Confederate Soldiers: An unconditional pardon was granted to all Confederate veterans by President Andrew Johnson, marking a significant step towards healing post-Civil War America.

1914 - Christmas Truce During World War I: An unofficial truce occurred along parts of the Western Front where British and German soldiers exchanged gifts, sang carols, and even played football in no man’s land.

1932 - First Royal Christmas Message: King George V spoke to the British Empire via radio for the first Christmas broadcast from Sandringham.

1941 - Hong Kong Falls to Japan: During World War II, the British colony of Hong Kong surrendered to Japanese forces.

1950 - First Christmas Televised by Queen Elizabeth II: This was the first Christmas broadcast by then-Princess Elizabeth, before she became Queen.

1968 - Apollo 8 Orbits the Moon: Astronauts aboard Apollo 8 read from the Book of Genesis during a live Christmas Eve broadcast, the first humans to orbit the moon.

1977 - Charlie Chaplin Dies: The legendary actor and filmmaker passed away on this day.

1989 - Execution of Nicolae Ceaușescu: The Romanian dictator and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad following a summary trial.

1989 - Mikhail Gorbachev Resigns: The last leader of the Soviet Union resigned, effectively ending the USSR. This event is sometimes dated on December 25 due to the time difference, although he resigned on the 25th Moscow time.

1990 - First Test of the World Wide Web: The system we now know as the internet was tested successfully on this day.

1991 - Dissolution of the Soviet Union: This was the official end of the USSR, following Gorbachev’s resignation.

1995 - Dean Martin Dies: The singer, actor, and part of the Rat Pack passed away.

2003 - Beagle 2 Mars Probe Lost: The European Space Agency’s Mars lander ceased communications, presumed lost or failed to land.

2004 - Cassini-Huygens Probe Released: Huygens was released from the Cassini orbiter to land on Saturn’s moon, Titan.

2020 - Nashville Bombing: An explosion occurred in Nashville, Tennessee, caused by a recreational vehicle filled with explosives.

These events span from religious celebrations to pivotal moments in warfare, politics, and science, reflecting the diverse nature of history on this particular day.