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December 24, 1968 Christmas Eve

December 24, 1968, was a Tuesday. It was the 359th day of 1968. The decade was the swinging sixties.

55 years, 3 months, and 4 days have passed since December 24, 1968.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on December 24, 1968:

  • The crew of Apollo 8 become the first humans to orbit around the Moon.
Song charts

Popular songs

On December 24, 1968, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye
  • United Kingdom: "Lily The Pink" by Scaffold

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 24, 1968

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
  • Love Child - Diana Ross & The Supremes
  • For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
  • Abraham, Martin And John - Dion
  • Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
Play the top songs from 1968
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1968. Take a trip back to the days of The The Beatles, Otis Redding, Cliff Richard, Louis Armstrong and The Rascals.
Funny Girl

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Funny Girl".

Facts

Christmas Eve 1968 was 20,183 days ago. Approximately 673 months have passed. It was the 359th day of 1968, in week 52. The decade was the swinging sixties. The start of 1969 was just 7 days away. People born on this day are currently 55 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 1968 had 366 days because it was a leap year. 224 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 24, 1968

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Tuesday, December 24, 1968. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Capricorn. It's Christmas Eve of 1968. The big day is fast approaching and the excitement is building. Department stores are filed with people trying to do some last-minute shopping.

In America, the song "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye is at the top of the singles charts, while "Lily The Pink" by Scaffold is the number-one song in the UK. Lyndon Baines Johnson is the President of the United States, and the movie Funny Girl is at the top of the box office. Harold Wilson is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

In fashion, a new "hippie subculture" has emerged, bringing with it laid-back Bohemian styles. Frayed bell-bottom jeans, Jesus sandals, crushed velvet suits, and bright tie-dye t-shirts are all popular items of clothing at the moment. It's 1968, so radio stations are playing hit songs from artists such as The Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Bobby Goldsboro and Marvin Gaye. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Judy Garland, Brian Jones, and Sharon Tate would all still be alive.

On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Bonanza", "Gilligan's Island", "I Dream of Jeannie", and "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "JOT the Dot", "The New Adventures of Superman", "The Herculoids", and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood". Popular toys at the moment include Troll doll, Etch A Sketch, Army men, and Twister mat.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 24, 1968.

  • Christmas Eve 1968.

    Christmas Eve 1968

    Christmas Day of 1968 was just one day away. The decorations were up, festive music was playing on the radio, people were buying last-minute presents for their loved ones, and stores were packed with shoppers. By this stage, many people had arrived home for the holiday season.
  • The Volkswagen Beetle.

    The Volkswagen Beetle

    The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most common cars on the road. Sales of the vehicle increased following the release of the 1968 film The Love Bug (and its subsequent spin-offs).
  • The Vietnam War is becoming costly.

    The Vietnam War is becoming costly

    In 1968, US troop numbers in Vietnam reached their peak. An estimated 536,100 service personnel were now stationed in the country. This was the deadliest and most expensive year for the American military in Vietnam. In 1968 alone, an estimated 16,592 US soldiers lost their lives. By this time, most Americans believed that military involvement in Vietnam was a mistake.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1968?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1968?

    The best NBA players in 1968 were Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas, Dave Bing and Oscar Robertson.
  • Who were the best football players?

    Who were the best football players?

    In 1968, the best soccer players were George Best, Bobby Charlton, Dragan Džajić, Franz Beckenbauer, Giacinto Facchetti, Luigi Riva, Amancio Amaro, Eusébio, Gianni Rivera, Jimmy Greaves and Pirri.
  • Oliver!

    Oliver!

    "Oliver!" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1968.
  • O. C. Smith - "Little Green Apples"

    O. C. Smith - "Little Green Apples"

    "Little Green Apples" by O. C. Smith won a Grammy for 1968's Song of the Year.
  • 1968 in music.

    1968 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1968 were dominated by the likes of Paul Mauriat, Otis Redding, Bobby Goldsboro, The Beatles, The Rascals and Herb Alpert.
  • 1968 in movies.

    1968 in movies

    Movies released in 1968 included 2001: A Space Odyssey, Funny Girl, The Love Bug, The Odd Couple, Bullitt, Romeo and Juliet, Oliver!, Coogan's Bluff, Rosemary's Baby, Planet of the Apes, Night of the Living Dead and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
  • The Apollo 8 astronauts.

    The Apollo 8 astronauts

    "The Apollo 8 astronauts" were named Time Person of the Year in 1968 after they became the first humans to successfully leave low Earth orbit.
  • The Hippie movement.

    The Hippie movement

    The hippie counterculture reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement, which sprung up in opposition to the Vietnam War, was centered around peace, psychedelic music, sexual liberation, bright colors, and drugs such as LSD and marijuana.
  • Lava lamps are all the rage.

    Lava lamps are all the rage

    Sales of lava lamps increased in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the second half of the 1970s that they started to go out of fashion.
  • The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity.

    The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity

    The afro hairstyle took off during the 1960s and early 1970s. Public figures such as Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5 were among those who sported the style.
  • Color TV.

    Color TV

    Although color television was rising in popularity, black-and-white TV sets were still the most popular.
  • The push-button telephone.

    The push-button telephone

    Push-button telephones were beginning to replace the older rotary-style landlines.
  • The miniskirt has taken over.

    The miniskirt has taken over

    In the mid-to-late 1960s, the miniskirt became a favored clothing item among women. The skirt countered the conservatism of the 1950s and early 1960s. As a result, many people at the time saw it as a rebellious fashion statement.
  • The Suzy Homemaker.

    The Suzy Homemaker

    A miniature oven called the "Suzy Homemaker" was a sought-after toy around this time.
  • Fast food is replacing diners and drive-ins.

    Fast food is replacing diners and drive-ins

    The fast food industry was steadily growing, much to the detriment of local diners and drive-in restaurants. Consequently, things such as jukeboxes and carhops also started to decline.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 24, 1968.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 24, 1968.

  • December 10, 1968: The "300 million yen robbery" takes place in Tokyo, Japan.
  • December 20, 1968: The Zodiac Killer shoots high school students Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday in Benicia.
  • December 23, 1968: North Korea releases 82 American sailors after 11 months of internment.
  • This date: December 24, 1968
  • January 12, 1969:
    • Super Bowl III: The New York Jets defeat the Baltimore Colts at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Flordia.
    • Led Zeppelin release their first album.
  • January 14, 1969: Manchester United manager Matt Busby announces that he will retire at the end of the season.
  • January 18, 1969:
    • 38 people are killed when United Airlines Flight 266 crashes into Santa Monica Bay.
    • Actress Audrey Hepburn and Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti are married.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 24, 1968, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1968 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 24, 1968 falls under the Goose.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of December will have the birthstones Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise.
  • Birth flower (December): The Narcissus and the Holly.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV shows in 1968

In December 1968, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from December 1968.

Here's Lucy
Here's Lucy
Adam-12
Adam-12
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Columbo
Columbo
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Steptoe and Son
Steptoe and Son
Bonanza
Bonanza
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
What's My Line?
What's My Line?
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show

Cars in 1968

1968 saw the introduction of cars such as the Audi 100, the Chevrolet Chevy Malibu, the Volkswagen Type 4, the BMW New Six, the Ford Torino, and the AMC Javelin.

Cars in 1968.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on December 24, 1968

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1968:

Joe 90
Joe 90
The Adventures of Gulliver
The Adventures of Gulliver
The Archie Show
The Archie Show

The Banana Splits
The Banana Splits
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Aquaman
Aquaman
The Herculoids
The Herculoids
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
The Monkees
The Monkees
The New Adventures of Superman
The New Adventures of Superman
The King Kong Show
The King Kong Show
Cool McCool
Cool McCool
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Original Series
JOT the Dot
JOT the Dot
Milton the Monster
Milton the Monster
Atom Ant
Atom Ant
Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds
Underdog
Underdog
Top Cat
Top Cat
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
My Three Sons
My Three Sons
Heckle and Jeckle
Heckle and Jeckle
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Lassie
Lassie
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1968

If you were a child on this date, then you may have had some of the following toys:

Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Best of the West (action figures)
Best of the West (action figures)
Twister mat
Twister mat
Suzy Homemaker
Suzy Homemaker
Major Matt Mason (action figure)
Major Matt Mason (action figure)
Captain Action (action figure)
Captain Action (action figure)
Operation
Operation
Scalextric
Scalextric
Barrel of Monkeys
Barrel of Monkeys
Motorific (slot car toys)
Motorific (slot car toys)
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
Army men
Army men
G.I. Joe: America's Movable Fighting Man
G.I. Joe: America's Movable Fighting Man
The Easy-Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven
Ken (doll)
Ken (doll)
Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch
Troll doll
Troll doll
Tonka trucks
Tonka trucks
Matchbox toy cars
Matchbox toy cars

Were you born on December 24, 1968?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1968.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out December 24, 1974, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 24.

King John

King John

King of England Deceased
Born on December 24, 1167
He was not alive on this date.

Dean Corll

Dean Corll

Serial killer Deceased
Born on December 24, 1939
He turned 29 on this day in 1968.

Anthony Fauci

Anthony Fauci

Physician-scientist and immunologist
Born on December 24, 1940
He turned 28 on this day in 1968.

Lemmy

Lemmy

English singer Deceased
Born on December 24, 1945
He turned 23 on this day in 1968.

Clarence Gilyard

Clarence Gilyard

Actor Deceased
Born on December 24, 1955
He turned 13 on this day in 1968.

Kate Spade

Kate Spade

American fashion designer Deceased
Born on December 24, 1962
She turned 6 on this day in 1968.

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin

Singer
Born on December 24, 1971
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest

Media personality
Born on December 24, 1974
He was born exactly 6 years after this date.

Louis Tomlinson

Louis Tomlinson

Singer
Born on December 24, 1991
He was born exactly 23 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on December 24:

  • Christmas Eve
USA

US President

Lyndon Baines Johnson was the President of the United States on December 24, 1968.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on December 24, 1968 was most likely conceived around April 2, 1968.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 24, 1968 is close to September 16, 1969.

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Stats for December 24, 1968

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 24, 1968:

  • 20,183 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,883 weeks have passed.
  • 1,743,814,800 seconds have passed since December 24, 1968.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,034,450,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 899,808,436,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 290,635,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 149,968,073 steps. That's roughly 66,652 miles!
  • Since this date, 20,925,778 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1968?

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