Holidays are supposed to be about celebration, reflection, and pretending your family doesn’t drive you crazy (KIDDING! Well, unless… you know). Yet, throughout history, some of the bloodiest battles have crashed the party, proving that war doesn’t give a damn about your turkey dinner or champagne toast. From the Revolutionary War to modern conflicts, these clashes remind us that nothing says “season’s greetings” quite like a well-timed ambush or artillery barrage.

In the true spirit of Christmas—because nothing says “peace on Earth” like a good old-fashioned firefight—SOFREP takes a look at some of history’s most memorable holiday battles. Consider it our gift to remind you that war doesn’t care if you’re decking the halls or roasting chestnuts.

The Revolutionary War: The Battle of Trenton (Christmas 1776)

Christmas night usually brings peace, goodwill, and maybe a little too much eggnog—but not in 1776. For General George Washington and his ragtag Continental Army, December 25 wasn’t about unwrapping presents; it was about unwrapping chaos. In freezing temperatures that would make Frosty the Snowman quit, Washington led his troops across the icy Delaware River to crash the Hessians’ holiday party in Trenton, New Jersey. Spoiler alert: the surprise attack worked, proving that even the holiest of nights can double as the perfect time for a little revolutionary mayhem.

Battle of Trenton
Resized. A 1975 painting depicting the Battle of Trenton by Hugh Charles McBarron, Jr. (Wikimedia Commons)

Civil War Strife: The Battle of Stones River (New Year’s Eve 1862)

As Americans braced themselves for New Year’s resolutions they’d never keep, Union and Confederate forces decided to kick off the countdown to 1863 with one of the Civil War’s bloodiest brawls. The Battle of Stones River, fought in Tennessee from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, gave the Union a much-needed strategic win—and gave soldiers on both sides the ultimate excuse to skip the holiday cheer. After all, who needs fireworks when you’ve got cannon fire and a body count to ring in the New Year?

Gallipoli Campaign: The Anzac Day Landing (April 25, 1915)

April 25, now remembered as Anzac Day, is a tribute to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps—but in 1915, it was less “tribute” and more “tragic mess.” That was the day Allied forces decided to land on the Dardanelles Strait for the Gallipoli Campaign, aiming to weaken the Ottoman Empire. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go well. With staggering casualties and a stalemate that dragged on like an awkward family dinner, the day became a permanent reminder that sometimes, bad decisions aren’t just for holidays—they make history, too.

World War II: The Battle of Moscow (Christmas 1941)

While the rest of the world was busy hanging stockings and singing carols in 1941, the Soviets decided to gift the Nazis a swift and brutal counteroffensive outside Moscow. Right in time for Russian Orthodox Christmas, this not-so-festive battle marked a turning point in World War II. Forget eggnog and mistletoe—Soviet soldiers unwrapped artillery fire and trench warfare, proving that in total war, “holiday spirit” takes a backseat to “survival at all costs.”

Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive (Vietnamese New Year 1968)

The Tet Offensive is a prime example of how even the most cherished cultural celebrations can be hijacked by the Grim Reaper. On January 30, 1968, while South Vietnam was prepping for the Vietnamese New Year with fireworks and feasts, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong decided to crash the party with surprise attacks across the country. The offensive not only caught US forces off guard but also gave Americans back home a harsh reminder that even during Tet, the only thing raining down harder than confetti could be mortar shells.