Historical eventNovember 251984

Do They Know It's Christmas?

Band Aid, a supergroup consisting of more than 30 leading British and Irish pop musicians, recorded the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Everything on November 25Original source

In context

When
Sunday, November 25 198442 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1980s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1984.

What happened

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a charity song written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was first recorded by Band Aid, a supergroup consisting of popular British and Irish musicians, in a single day at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, in November 1984.

November 25 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1984Do They Know It's Christmas?
  2. 1985Soviet Air Forces
  3. 1986Iran–Contra affair
  4. 1986King Fahd Causeway
  5. 1987Typhoon Nina (1987)
  6. 1992Federal Assembly (Czechoslovakia)
  7. 1999Elián González
  8. 20002000 Baku earthquake
  9. 2008Cyclone Nisha (2008)
  10. 20092009 Jeddah floods
  11. 2013One Direction

Also in 1984

  • March 14Gerry AdamsGerry Adams, leader of Sinn Féin, was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt by Ulster Freedom Fighters in central Belfast, Northe…
  • September 14Joseph KittingerJoe Kittinger becomes the first person to fly a gas balloon alone across the Atlantic Ocean.
  • September 5STS-41-DSTS-41-D: The Space Shuttle Discovery lands after its maiden voyage.
  • September 5Western AustraliaWestern Australia becomes the last Australian state to abolish capital punishment.
  • October 20Sinking of the Spanish trawler SoniaThe Spanish trawler Sonia sank in British waters after a five-hour chase by the Irish Naval Service patrol vessel Aisling, during which a…
  • November 27Brussels Agreement (1984)Under the Brussels Agreement signed between the governments of the United Kingdom and Spain, the former agrees to enter into discussions…
  • July 5Supreme Court of the United StatesThe United States Supreme Court gives its United States v. Leon decision providing a good-faith exception from the Fourth Amendment exclu…
  • December 10United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General Assembly recognizes the Convention against Torture.

Everything we record for 1984 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Do They Know It's Christmas?”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/do-they-know-it-s-christmas-1984-november-25, accessed October 28, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Do They Know It's Christmas? happen?

November 25 1984 — 42 years ago, on a Sunday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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