1. Boston Tea Party - On December 24, 1773, despite being Christmas Eve, a group of colonists in Boston disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and raided three British ships, dumping over 300 chests of tea into the harbor. This event is now known as the Boston Tea Party and is considered one of the key events leading up to the American Revolution.

2. North Pole Expedition - On December 24, 1909, Robert Peary and his team became the first people to reach the North Pole. Born in Cresson, Pennsylvania, Peary moved to Fryeburg, Maine, at the age of 15 and later settled in Bowdoinham, Maine, with his wife.

3. Worcester Cold Storage Fire - On December 24, 1999, a fire broke out at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Company, a six-story building in Worcester, Massachusetts. Six firefighters were killed while fighting the blaze, and the tragedy had a significant impact on the local community.

4. Federalist Papers - On December 24, 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers was published in a New York newspaper. The papers, which were a collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were written to encourage the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

5. Christmas Traditions - Like most other states, Massachusetts has its own unique Christmas traditions that are celebrated on December 24th. One such tradition is the lighting of the Boston Common Christmas Tree, which has been an annual event since 1941. Additionally, many families in Massachusetts gather together on Christmas Eve to enjoy a seafood dinner, a practice that has been passed down through generations.