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October 20, 1996

October 20, 1996, was a Sunday. It was the 294th day of 1996. The decade was the nineties.

27 years, 4 months, and 30 days have passed since October 20, 1996.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Libra.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 20, 1996:

  • United States: "Macarena" by Los Del Rio
  • United Kingdom: "Words" by Boyzone

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 20, 1996

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) - Los Del Rio
  • I Love You Always Forever - Donna Lewis
  • It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion
  • No Diggity - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre)
  • Where Do You Go - No Mercy
Play the top songs from 1996
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1996. Take a trip back to the days of the Spice Girls, the Backstreet Boys, Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion and the Fugees.
Ghost and the Darkness

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Ghost and the Darkness".

Facts

This date was 10,012 days ago. Approximately 334 months have passed. It was the 294th day of 1996, in week 42. The decade was the nineties. People born on this day are currently 27 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. 1996 had 366 days because it was a leap year. 111 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to October 20, 1996

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Sunday, October 20, 1996. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Libra. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the days ahead.

The summer is long gone. Temperatures have become much cooler, and the evenings are beginning to get darker. There is a fresh, earthy scent in the air, and fallen leaves have carpeted driveways, lawns, pathways, and sidewalks. Halloween 1996 is quickly approaching and stores are selling costumes and decorations.

In America, the song "Macarena" by Los Del Rio is at the top of the singles charts, while "Words" by Boyzone is the number-one song in the UK. Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Ghost and the Darkness is at the top of the box office. John Major is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

A new form of communication called "text messaging" is starting to become more widespread. However, it can only be done if both the sender and the receiver are on the same cell network. Meanwhile, a global system called "the Internet" is also starting to take off. Each day, more and more people are learning how to send emails and browse "websites" on the World Wide Web by connecting their IBM computers to noisy dial-up modems. In fashion, "grunge" clothing has fallen out of favor, and women are beginning to wear form-fitting outfits such as slip dresses and pencil skirts. Movies such as Clueless and The Craft have popularized the "sexy schoolgirl" look.

The CD is quickly becoming the dominant format for music, and people are buying portable players such as the "Discman". Consequently, sales of cassette tapes are continuing to decline. It's 1996, so radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Céline Dion, Oasis, Mark Morrison, Spice Girls, Los Del Rio, 2Pac and Coolio. A new dance craze called the "Macarena" is all the rage at the moment.

A new video game console called the "Nintendo 64" has just been released. It is currently competing against the Sony PlayStation and the Sega Saturn. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Yaki Kadafi, Tiny Tim, Carl Sagan, and JonBenét Ramsey would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Family Matters", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "Beavis and Butt-Head", and "The X-Files".

Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Killer Instinct", "Virtua Fighter 2", "Duke Nukem 3D", and "Super Mario 64". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Living Single", "Friends", "Goosebumps", and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch". Popular toys at the moment include Polly Pocket, Mighty Max, Matchbox Car Wash, and Car City Carpet.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on October 20, 1996.

  • Hey Arnold!

    Hey Arnold!

    In October 1996, a new cartoon series called "Hey Arnold!" debuted on Nickelodeon.
  • The campaign for the 1996 United States presidential election is underway.

    The campaign for the 1996 United States presidential election is underway

    The 1996 United States presidential election was heating up at this point, as incumbent Democratic Party President Bill Clinton went head-to-head against Republican challenger Bob Dole. Throughout the campaign, Clinton managed to maintain a consistent lead in the polls.
  • The Nintendo 64 is released.

    The Nintendo 64 is released

    The Nintendo 64 games console was released in North America on September 29th, 1996. For many kids (and adults), this was the go-to gift for Christmas 1996.
  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

    Sabrina the Teenage Witch

    At the end of September in 1996, a new sitcom called "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" premiered on ABC. The show followed the life of Sabrina Spellman - a high school student who learns that she is a witch with magical powers.
  • Macarena.

    Macarena

    A dance called the "Macarena" became a craze in the second half of 1996.
  • The Nokia 9000 Communicator.

    The Nokia 9000 Communicator

    The Nokia 9000 Communicator was released on April 15th, 1996. It was one of the first smartphones on the market. The phone had 8MB of memory and came equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard.
  • The Tamagotchi.

    The Tamagotchi

    Back in 1996, it seemed like everyone had a handheld digital pet called the Tamagotchi. The egg-shaped device contained a pixelated creature that the owner had to feed and play minigames with. It also left behind digital droppings that needed to be cleaned up on a regular basis.
  • 1996 in music.

    1996 in music

    Popular music artists in 1996 included Los del Río, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, 2Pac, LL Cool J, Soundgarden, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Alanis Morissette, Everything but the Girl, Joan Osborne, Mary J. Blige, SWV, Toni Braxton, Eric Clapton, Blackstreet, R. Kelly, Metallica and Van Halen.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1996?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1996?

    In 1996, the best NBA players were Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Penny Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Grant Hill, Hakeem Olajuwon, Gary Payton, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Juwan Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, Mitch Richmond and Reggie Miller.
  • David Ho.

    David Ho

    A scientist named David Ho was named Time Person of the Year in 1996 because of his pioneering contributions to HIV/AIDS research.
  • Gillian Anderson.

    Gillian Anderson

    The X-Files actress Gillian Anderson (Agent Scully) was named FHM's sexiest woman in 1996.
  • 1996 in movies.

    1996 in movies

    1996 saw the release of movies such as Independence Day, Twister, Mission: Impossible, The Rock, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 101 Dalmatians, Ransom, Eraser, The Nutty Professor, Jerry Maguire, Scream, The Cable Guy, Mars Attacks! and The Craft.
  • Best football players in 1996.

    Best football players in 1996

    In 1996, the best soccer players were Matthias Sammer, Ronaldo, Alan Shearer, Alessandro Del Piero, Jürgen Klinsmann, Davor Šuker, Eric Cantona, Marcel Desailly, Youri Djorkaeff, Karel Poborský and Nwankwo Kanu.
  • The English Patient.

    The English Patient

    "The English Patient" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1996.
  • Eric Clapton - "Change the World"

    Eric Clapton - "Change the World"

    The song "Change the World" by Eric Clapton went on to win a Grammy for 1996's Song of the Year.
  • Sony PlayStation.

    Sony PlayStation

    The Sony PlayStation (PS1) was released in September 1995. It was one of the best-selling video game consoles of the 1990s.
  • CDs have become the dominant music format.

    CDs have become the dominant music format

    By this stage, the CD had become the dominant music format. Consequently, sales of CD players and the "Discman" continued to increase. Meanwhile, people were beginning to replace their cassette players.
  • Mid-1990s fashion.

    Mid-1990s fashion

    During the mid-1990s, female clothing began to become more form-fitting as those badly-shaped "mom jeans" began to disappear. Grunge fashion started to decline, and popular outfits began to include tartan minikilts, hot pants, slip dresses, and knee-highs.
  • The Internet is growing.

    The Internet is growing

    A new global, interconnected network called the Internet was beginning to grow. However, it was still a novelty.
  • Kids are reading Goosebumps.

    Kids are reading Goosebumps

    Kids were reading Goosebumps, which was a series of children's horror books that were written by author R. L. Stine. The original series included books such as "Monster Blood", "Say Cheese and Die!" and "The Barking Ghost".
  • VCRs are common household items.

    VCRs are common household items

    Everyone was using VCRs to watch tapes of movies and TV shows. The device also gave people the ability to record programs and films onto a blank tape.
  • People are using pagers to communicate.

    People are using pagers to communicate

    Pagers achieved mainstream popularity during the 1990s. These small devices allowed the owner to receive messages. More often than not, the message was a short memo or a phone number that they were supposed to call back.
  • Wallpaper is beginning to go out of style.

    Wallpaper is beginning to go out of style

    By the 1990s, "modernism" was starting to heavily influence interior design trends. As a result, sales of wallpaper started to decline. Instead of using decorative wallpaper, people were beginning to opt for minimalist, painted walls.
  • The Scrunchie.

    The Scrunchie

    People are wearing an elastic hair tie called the "scrunchie".
  • The Game Boy.

    The Game Boy

    A hand-held game console called the "Game Boy" was all the rage. The console boasted games such as Super Mario Land, Tetris, Donkey Kong, Kirby's Dream Land, and a number of Pokémon releases.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on October 20, 1996.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to October 20, 1996.

  • September 20, 1996: The game "The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall" is released.
  • September 22, 1996: Football: Arsene Wenger is unveiled as the new manager of Arsenal.
  • September 25, 1996: The last Magdalene asylum is closed in Waterford, Ireland.
  • September 27, 1996:
    • The first episode of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" is aired.
    • Former Afghanistan president Mohammad Najibullah is executed by the Taliban.
  • September 29, 1996:
    • The Nintendo 64 is released in North America.
    • Melanie Ethier (15) goes missing in New Liskeard, Canada.
  • September 30, 1996: The futuristic video game "Wipeout 2097" is released for the PlayStation 1.
  • October 7, 1996:
    • The animated cartoon series "Arthur" is broadcast for the first time.
    • The first episode of "Hey Arnold!" is aired.
    • Boy band NSYNC release their first single.
    • The Fox News Channel is launched by News Corporation.
  • October 11, 1996:
    • The film Michael Collins (1996) is released.
    • Boxing: Floyd Mayweather wins in his professional debut against Roberto Apodaca.
  • October 14, 1996:
    • English girl group Spice Girls release their single "Say You'll Be There".
    • The Backstreet Boys release their single "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)".
  • October 18, 1996: The movie Sleepers (1996) is released.
  • This date: October 20, 1996
  • October 21, 1996: The song "Un-Break My Heart" is released by Toni Braxton.
  • October 25, 1996: Tomb Raider is released on the Sega Saturn.
  • October 31, 1996:
    • The game Command & Conquer: Red Alert is released for the PC and PlayStation.
    • Irish-speaking channel TnaG is launched.
  • November 1, 1996:
    • Stephon Marbury makes his NBA debut.
    • The video game "Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain" is released on the PlayStation.
  • November 3, 1996: Kobe Bryant makes his NBA debut at the age of 18.
  • November 4, 1996: Wrestler "The Rock" makes his WWF debut.
  • November 5, 1996:
    • 2Pac's album "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" is released two months after his murder in Las Vegas.
    • US President Bill Clinton is re-elected to the White House after defeating Republican candidate Bob Dole.
  • November 7, 1996: 144 people are killed after ADC Airlines Flight 086 crashes into a lagoon in Lagos State, Nigeria.
  • November 8, 1996: Football: Gianfranco Zola joins Chelsea from Parma.
  • November 9, 1996:
    • Boxing: Evander Holyfield defeats Mike Tyson at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
    • Brothers Adam, Trevor, and Mitchell O'Brien go missing from Torbay in Canada.
  • November 10, 1996: Rapper Yaki Kadafi is shot dead in Orange, New Jersey.
  • November 11, 1996: The song "Breathe" by Prodigy is released.
  • November 12, 1996:
    • Eminem releases his album Infinite. The album is a commercial failure.
    • Saudia Flight 763 and Air Kazakhstan Flight 1907 collide over India, killing 349 people.
  • November 14, 1996: Tomb Raider is released on the Sony PlayStation.
  • November 15, 1996: The movie Space Jam (1996) is released.
  • November 16, 1996: Wladimir Klitschko makes his professional boxing debut in a win over Fabian Meza.
  • November 18, 1996: A fire breaks out on a train inside the Channel Tunnel between France and England.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 20, 1996, will have the star sign Libra.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1996 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 20, 1996 falls under the Raven.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of October will have the birthstones Tourmaline and Opal.
  • Birth flower (October): The Marigold and the Cosmos.

Mid-1990s fashion

Photographs of mid-1990s fashion and hairstyles.

Mid-1990s fashion

Television shows

TV series on October 20, 1996

People in October 1996 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from October 1996.

Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
7th Heaven
7th Heaven
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
JAG
JAG
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Father Ted
Father Ted
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Friends
Friends
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
ER
ER
Party of Five
Party of Five
Ellen
Ellen
Babylon 5
Babylon 5
The Nanny
The Nanny
Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger
Frasier
Frasier
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
The X-Files
The X-Files
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Mad About You
Mad About You
Martin
Martin
Melrose Place
Melrose Place
Baywatch
Baywatch
Step by Step
Step by Step

Cars in 1996

1996 saw the introduction of cars such as the Citroën Saxo, the Cadillac Catera, the Audi A3, the Honda Logo, the Volvo S70, and the Pontiac Montana.

Cars in 1996.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on October 20, 1996

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1996:

KaBlam!
KaBlam!
Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold!
Arthur
Arthur

Bruno the Kid
Bruno the Kid
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Clueless
Clueless
Richie Rich
Richie Rich
Blue's Clues
Blue's Clues
Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
7th Heaven
7th Heaven
Kenan & Kel
Kenan & Kel
Moesha
Moesha
Little Bear
Little Bear
Goosebumps
Goosebumps
Wishbone
Wishbone
Brotherly Love
Brotherly Love
Hang Time
Hang Time
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain
In the House
In the House
Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo
Dexter's Laboratory
Dexter's Laboratory
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
Gargoyles
Gargoyles
The Secret World of Alex Mack
The Secret World of Alex Mack
Friends
Friends
Street Sharks
Street Sharks
The Magic School Bus
The Magic School Bus
Sweet Valley High
Sweet Valley High
All That
All That
Sister, Sister
Sister, Sister
Weird Science
Weird Science
The Nanny
The Nanny
Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World
Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life
Tales from the Cryptkeeper
Tales from the Cryptkeeper
Animaniacs
Animaniacs
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Living Single
Living Single
X-Men: The Animated Series
X-Men: The Animated Series
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Home Improvement
Home Improvement
Doug
Doug
Rugrats
Rugrats
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Art Attack
Art Attack
Round the Twist
Round the Twist
The Simpsons
The Simpsons
Dink, the Little Dinosaur
Dink, the Little Dinosaur
Roseanne
Roseanne
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1996

Toys and games that were popular in 1996:

Bop It
Bop It
Car City Carpet
Car City Carpet
The Nintendo 64
The Nintendo 64
Tickle Me Elmo
Tickle Me Elmo
The Tamagotchi
The Tamagotchi
12" talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure
12" talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure
Tyco Rebound RC Car
Tyco Rebound RC Car
Street Sharks Action Figures
Street Sharks Action Figures
The PlayStation (PS1)
The PlayStation (PS1)
The Sega Saturn
The Sega Saturn
Styrofoam plane gliders
Styrofoam plane gliders
Sky Dancers
Sky Dancers
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Dear Diary
Dear Diary
Casio Secret Sender 6000
Casio Secret Sender 6000
Jurassic Park: Young Tyrannosaurus Rex
Jurassic Park: Young Tyrannosaurus Rex
Matchbox Car Wash
Matchbox Car Wash
Action Man
Action Man
Mighty Max
Mighty Max
Littlest Pet Shop
Littlest Pet Shop
Tiger 2-XL Talking Robot
Tiger 2-XL Talking Robot
Nerf Blaster
Nerf Blaster
Super Soaker (water gun)
Super Soaker (water gun)
The SEGA Game Gear
The SEGA Game Gear
G.I. Joe (figures)
G.I. Joe (figures)
Fear Street books
Fear Street books
Yo-yo
Yo-yo
Lego Pirates
Lego Pirates
Polly Pocket
Polly Pocket
Jenga
Jenga
Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families
Screwball Scramble
Screwball Scramble
Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1996.

Wipeout 2097 1996
Wipeout 2097
Super Mario 64 1996
Super Mario 64
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall 1996
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Crash Bandicoot 1996
Crash Bandicoot
Nights into Dreams 1996
Nights into Dreams
Die Hard Trilogy 1996
Die Hard Trilogy
Fade to Black 1996
Fade to Black
Quake 1996
Quake
Ridge Racer Revolution 1996
Ridge Racer Revolution
Resident Evil 1996
Resident Evil
Duke Nukem 3D 1996
Duke Nukem 3D
Virtua Fighter 2 1996
Virtua Fighter 2
Twisted Metal 1995
Twisted Metal
Phantasmagoria 1995
Phantasmagoria
Destruction Derby 1995
Destruction Derby
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 1995
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Killer Instinct 1995
Killer Instinct
Air Combat 1995
Air Combat
Mortal Kombat 3 1995
Mortal Kombat 3
Theme Park 1995
Theme Park
Myst 1993
Myst

Were you born on October 20, 1996?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1996.

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 October 20, 2002, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on October 20.

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle

Baseball player Deceased
Born on October 20, 1931
He was not alive on this date.

Tom Petty

Tom Petty

Musician Deceased
Born on October 20, 1950
He turned 46 on this day in 1996.

Scott Hall

Scott Hall

Wrestler Deceased
Born on October 20, 1958
He turned 38 on this day in 1996.

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen

Actor
Born on October 20, 1958
He turned 38 on this day in 1996.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris

US Vice President
Born on October 20, 1964
She turned 32 on this day in 1996.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg

Rapper
Born on October 20, 1971
He turned 25 on this day in 1996.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski

Actor
Born on October 20, 1979
He turned 17 on this day in 1996.

Candice Swanepoel

Candice Swanepoel

Actor
Born on October 20, 1988
She turned 8 on this day in 1996.

USA

US President

Bill Clinton was the President of the United States on October 20, 1996.

UK

UK Prime Minister

John Major was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

John Bruton was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on October 20, 1996 was most likely conceived around January 28, 1996.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 20, 1996 is close to July 13, 1997.

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Stats for October 20, 1996

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 20, 1996:

  • 10,012 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,430 weeks have passed.
  • 865,040,400 seconds have passed since October 20, 1996.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,009,213,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 446,360,846,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 144,173,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 74,393,474 steps. That's roughly 33,064 miles!
  • Since this date, 10,380,485 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1996?

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