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December 31, 1961 New Year's Eve

December 31, 1961, was a Sunday. It was 62 years, 10 months, and 21 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

On This Day

Events

Notable events that occurred on December 31, 1961:

  • NFL: The Green Bay Packers defeat the New York Giants by 37-0 to win the 1961 NFL Championship Game.
Song charts

Popular songs

On December 31, 1961, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens
  • United Kingdom: "Moon River" by Danny Williams

The music charts on December 31, 1961

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens
  • The Twist - Chubby Checker
  • Run To Him - Bobby Vee
  • Peppermint Twist - Part I - Joey Dee & the Starliters
  • Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
Play the top singles from 1961
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1961. Take a trip back to the days of Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, The Shirelles, Chubby Checker, Ray Charles and Helen Shapiro.
Flower Drum Song

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Flower Drum Song".

Facts

New Year's Eve 1961 occurred 22,971 days ago. Approximately 766 months have passed. It was the 365th day of 1961, in week 52. The decade was the swinging sixties. It was the last day of the year. People who were born on December 31, 1961, are now 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. 255 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 31, 1961

Let's go back to the swinging sixties.

The date is December 31, 1961, and it's a Sunday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Capricorn. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the week ahead.

It's New Year's Eve, and everyone is wondering what the year 1962 will bring. In America, the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens is at the top of the singles charts, while "Moon River" by Danny Williams is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie Flower Drum Song is at the top of the box office.

Harold Macmillan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "The Jack Benny Program", "Rawhide", "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", and "The Untouchables". Tailfins on cars are extremely popular at the moment. The design looks futuristic, almost like a rocket or the twin rudders on the back of an airplane.

In fashion, many of the trends from the late 1950s are still popular. Women are wearing tailored skirts, short boxy jackets and shift dresses. Trousers are also becoming popular amongst women. Meanwhile, men are wearing polo shirts, argyle socks, sweater vests, loafers and harrington jackets. Because it's 1961, radio stations are playing hit songs from artists such as Bert Kaempfert, Chubby Checker, Elvis Presley, Del Shannon, Bobby Lewis and Jimmy Dean. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Ernie Kovacs and Marilyn Monroe would be still alive.

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Mighty Mouse Playhouse", "Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy", "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", and "Dennis the Menace". Children are playing with toys such as Crater Critters, Tonka trucks, Astrobase, and Etch A Sketch.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 31, 1961, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1961 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 31, 1961 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.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 31, 1961.

  • The USA is escalating its involvement in the Vietnam War.

    The USA is escalating its involvement in the Vietnam War

    The United States was slowly escalating its involvement in the Vietnam War. In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy ordered helicopters and 400 Green Berets into South Vietnam. Covert operations against the communist forces in the north were also authorized. By 1963, the number of US military personnel in the country had grown to 10,000.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1961?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1961?

    In 1961, the best NBA players were Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson.
  • Who were the best football players?

    Who were the best football players?

    In 1961, the best soccer players were Pelé, Omar Sívori, Luis Suárez, Johnny Haynes, Lev Yashin, Ferenc Puskás, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Uwe Seeler and John Charles.
  • West Side Story.

    West Side Story

    The film "West Side Story" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1961.
  • Henry Mancini - "Moon River"

    Henry Mancini - "Moon River"

    The song "Moon River" by Henry Mancini won a Grammy for 1961's Song of the Year.
  • 1961 in music.

    1961 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1961 were dominated by the likes of Elvis Presley, Bobby Lewis, Jimmy Dean, Ricky Nelson, The Marcels, Del Shannon, Bobby Vee, Ray Charles and Bert Kaempfert.
  • 1961 in movies.

    1961 in movies

    Movies released in 1961 included West Side Story, The Guns of Navarone, El Cid, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Parent Trap, La Dolce Vita, Lover Come Back, King of Kings, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Splendor in the Grass, Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Hustler.
  • John F. Kennedy.

    John F. Kennedy

    US President John F. Kennedy was named Time Person of the Year in 1961.
  • Rotary phones.

    Rotary phones

    Rotary phones were still the most common type of landline phone. Although push-button telephones did begin to appear at the end of 1963, they were relatively uncommon.
  • Tailfins on cars.

    Tailfins on cars

    Tailfins on cars were a popular style around this time. The design looked futuristic, almost like the twin rudders on the back of an airplane.
  • Greasers.

    Greasers

    A youth subculture called "greasers" emerged during the 1950s and early 1960s. The style included greased-back hairstyles, work pants, and denim or leather jackets.
  • The Jukebox.

    The Jukebox

    The jukebox was at the height of its popularity. Teenagers and young adults would often hang out at local restaurants and diners and listen to the latest songs.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 31, 1961.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around December 31, 1961.

  • December 2, 1961: Fidel Castro announces that Cuba will be adopting Communism.
  • December 4, 1961: Boxing: Floyd Patterson retains the heavyweight championship after he knocks out Tom McNeeley in the 4th round.
  • December 6, 1961: The historical film "El Cid" is released.
  • December 9, 1961: Domino's Pizza is founded in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
  • December 14, 1961: 20 children are killed after a school bus collides with a train in Greeley, Colorado.
  • December 15, 1961:
    • Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death.
    • US President John F. Kennedy leaves for a tour of South America "despite reports of anti-US feelings".
  • December 16, 1961:
    • US President John F. Kennedy visits Venezuela despite threats of violence from left-wing groups.
    • UN troops capture the main Katangan base in Elisabethville in the Congo.
  • December 17, 1961: 503 people are killed after a fire breaks out in a crowded circus tent in Niterói, Brazil.
  • December 20, 1961: The romantic comedy film "Lover Come Back" is released.
  • This date: December 31, 1961
  • January 1, 1962: The United States Navy SEALs are founded.
  • January 3, 1962: Cuban prime minister Fidel Castro is excommunicated by the Catholic Church for preaching Communism.
  • January 8, 1962: 93 people die after two trains collide at a railway junction in Harmelen in the Netherlands.
  • January 10, 1962: 4000 people die after an avalanche occurs at the Huascarán mountain in Peru.
  • January 13, 1962: Comedian Ernie Kovacs dies in a car crash in Los Angeles.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in December 1961

In December 1961, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from December 1961.

Hazel
Hazel
Route 66
Route 66
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Danger Man
Danger Man
The Untouchables
The Untouchables
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Bonanza
Bonanza
Rawhide
Rawhide
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
Maverick
Maverick
Perry Mason
Perry Mason

Cars in 1961

1961 saw the introduction of cars such as the BMW New Class, the Dodge Lancer, the Toyota Publica, the Ford Thunderbird (third generation), the MG Midget, and the Volvo P1800.

Cars in 1961.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in December 1961

If you were a kid on December 31, 1961, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

Top Cat
Top Cat
Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath
The Yogi Bear Show
The Yogi Bear Show

Mister Ed
Mister Ed
The Dick Tracy Show
The Dick Tracy Show
King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Flintstones
The Flintstones
My Three Sons
My Three Sons
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
Toys

Toys in 1961

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

Ken (doll)
Ken (doll)
Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch
Astrobase
Astrobase
Troll doll
Troll doll
Tonka trucks
Tonka trucks
Matchbox toy cars
Matchbox toy cars
Barbie
Barbie
Playpal dolls
Playpal dolls
Crater Critters
Crater Critters
Fisher Price Little People
Fisher Price Little People
The Hula Hoop
The Hula Hoop
Metal House robots
Metal House robots

Were you born on December 31, 1961?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1961.

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 31, 1967, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 31.

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins

Actor
Born on December 31, 1937
He turned 24 on this day in 1961.

Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson

Soccer manager
Born on December 31, 1941
He turned 20 on this day in 1961.

John Denver

John Denver

American singer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1943
He turned 18 on this day in 1961.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer

Actor
Born on December 31, 1959
He turned 2 on this day in 1961.

John Allen Muhammad

John Allen Muhammad

Convicted murderer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1960
He turned 1 on this day in 1961.

Psy

Psy

South Korean singer
Born on December 31, 1977
He was born exactly 16 years after this date.

Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr.

American businessman
Born on December 31, 1977
He was born exactly 16 years after this date.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer

Actress
Born on December 31, 1998
She was born exactly 37 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on December 31:

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on December 31, 1961.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Seán Lemass was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on December 31, 1961 was most likely conceived around April 9, 1961.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 31, 1961 is close to September 23, 1962.

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Stats for December 31, 1961

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 31, 1961:

  • 22,971 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,281 weeks have passed.
  • 1,984,694,400 seconds have passed since December 31, 1961.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,315,476,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,024,102,310,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 330,782,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 170,683,718 steps. That's roughly 75,859 miles.
  • 23,816,333 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1961?

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