1. Christmas Day Battle: On December 25, 1776, George Washington led a surprise attack on Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey, which is located just across the river from Pennsylvania. This is now known as the Christmas Day Battle and is considered a turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

2. Statehood: On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania officially became the second state to ratify the United States Constitution, paving the way for the federal government to be established under the new document.

3. Christmas Comes to America: While Christmas celebrations were relatively common in Europe at the time, it wasn't until the early 1800s that Christmas started to become a popular holiday in America. In Pennsylvania, German immigrants are particularly credited with bringing many of the Christmas traditions still celebrated today to the US, including the decorated tree and the modern day Santa Claus.

4. The Allegheny Observatory: Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this world-renowned observatory was founded on December 10, 1859, and has since played a key role in the study of astronomy and astrophysics.

5. The Christmas Factory: Known as the Christmas City, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is famous for its historic ties to the holiday season. But did you know that Bethlehem has long been home to a major production center for Christmas decorations? Called The Christmas Factory, this Pennsylvania-based manufacturer produces holiday decor that is distributed across the country.