1. On December 25, 1810, Manuel Lisa, a Spanish-American explorer, established Fort Lisa near present-day Omaha, Nebraska. The fort became an important trading post for Native Americans and fur traders, including those in what is now Oklahoma.

2. In 1868, Christmas Day fell in the midst of the Battle of Washita River, where Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry in an attack on a Cheyenne village in present-day western Oklahoma. The controversial battle resulted in the death of Chief Black Kettle and many of his people.

3. The Christmas Day tornado of 2012 caused widespread destruction in eastern Oklahoma, particularly in the town of Pocola. The EF2 tornado damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, businesses, and vehicles, but thankfully no fatalities were reported.

4. December 25 was also significant for Oklahoma's oil industry. On this day in 1927, the first oil was discovered in the Anadarko Basin, which extends across several western Oklahoma counties. This discovery helped propel Oklahoma to become one of the nation's top oil-producing states.

5. December 25, 1896, marked the opening of the Chickasaw Nation's first college, then called Bloomfield Academy, near Ardmore, Oklahoma. The school primarily served Native American students, and over the years it evolved into what is now known as Murray State College.