1. The day after Christmas, December 26, 1862, marked the beginning of the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou during the American Civil War. Confederate forces under General John C. Pemberton successfully defended the bayou against Union forces.

2. On December 26, 1836, the Republic of Texas's first Secretary of State, Stephen F. Austin, died in Columbia, Texas. Austin is often referred to as the "Father of Texas" for his crucial role in the settlement and development of the region.

3. In 1982, the first Bowlski's opened in Dallas, Texas, on December 26th. Bowlski's was an innovative concept at the time, as it combined the popular sports of bowling and skiing into a single indoor entertainment attraction.

4. On December 26, 1977, the Fort Worth Alliance Airport officially opened, becoming the first industrial airport developed in the United States in over 40 years. The airport is a major logistics hub and is the world's first 100% industrial airport.

5. The deadliest tornado outbreak on record for San Antonio, Texas occurred on December 26, 1973. The outbreak resulted in the deaths of nine people, injured 115, and caused $30 million in damages. The F4 tornado was part of a larger outbreak that affected Texas and other states in the southern US.