1. Christmas Eve was hot in 1984: December 24, 1984, holds the record for the warmest Christmas Eve in North Carolina history, with temperatures reaching a high of 79 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. The Battle of Knoxville was fought on December 24, 1863: In the midst of the Civil War, Confederate forces under General James Longstreet launched an unsuccessful assault on the Union-held city of Knoxville, Tennessee. The battle lasted three days and resulted in a Union victory.

3. The first North Carolina state capitol burned down on December 24, 1831: The original state capitol building, located in downtown Raleigh, caught fire on Christmas Eve and was almost completely destroyed. A new capitol building was constructed in its place, which still stands today.

4. The Wright Brothers made their first flight on December 24, 1903: Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved their historic flight of the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. One week later, they made their fourth and final flight of the day, flying the airplane for 59 seconds and covering a distance of 852 feet.

5. Asheville's first public library opened on December 24, 1892: The Pack Memorial Library, located in downtown Asheville, first opened its doors on Christmas Eve in 1892. It was named in honor of local businessman and philanthropist George Willis Pack, who donated money for the library's construction.