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December 16, 1971

December 16, 1971, was a Thursday. It was 52 years, 11 months, and 18 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Sagittarius.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on December 16, 1971:

  • The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 comes to an end after the Eastern Command of the Pakistan military surrenders.
Birthdays

Born on December 16, 1971

People who were born on this exact date:

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 16, 1971:

  • United States: "Family Affair" by Sly & Family Stone
  • United Kingdom: "Ernie" by Benny Hill

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 16, 1971

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
  • Theme From Shaft - Isaac Hayes
  • Have You Seen Her - The Chi-lites
  • Got To Be There - Michael Jackson
  • An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night
Play the top songs from 1971
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1971. Take a trip back to the days of John Lennon, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin and Bill Withers.
The French Connection

Top movie

The movie "The French Connection" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date was 19,346 days ago. Approximately 645 months have passed. It was the 350th day of 1971, in week 50. The decade was the seventies. The end of 1971 was just 15 days away. People born on this day are currently 52 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. We have gone through approximately 215 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to December 16, 1971

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Thursday, December 16, 1971. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The Christmas season of 1971 is in full swing. People are putting up their decorations and festive songs are playing on the radio.

In America, the song "Family Affair" by Sly & Family Stone is at the top of the singles charts, while "Ernie" by Benny Hill is the number-one song in the UK. Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie The French Connection is at the top of the box office. Edward Heath is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

In fashion, the hippie look from the 1960s is still popular. Clothing items such as tie dye shirts, bell-bottoms, midi skirts, gauchos and Mexican blouses are being worn by women. Meanwhile, men are wearing dark satin shirts, ethnic-looking tunics, bell bottom jeans, tweed sports jackets and turtlenecks. It's 1971, so radio stations are playing songs from artists such as George Harrison, John Lennon, Rod Stewart, Lynn Anderson, The Rolling Stones, Three Dog Night, Carole King and The Osmonds. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as J. Edgar Hoover, Jackie Robinson, Janet Munro, and Harry S. Truman would all still be alive.

On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Columbo", "Hee Haw", "The Brady Bunch", and "McCloud". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "Skyhawks", "The Pink Panther Show", and "Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines". Popular toys at the moment include Etch A Sketch, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Nerf Balls, and Uno (card game).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 16, 1971, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1971 was the year of the Pig (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 16, 1971 falls under the Owl.
  • 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 16, 1971.

  • Christmas 1971.

    Christmas 1971

    The Christmas period of 1971 was in full swing by this stage. The decorations were up, festive music was playing on the radio, people were feeling stressed, retail stores were filled with shoppers, and everyone was making plans for the big day.
  • Have a nice day!

    Have a nice day!

    The smiley face and phrases such as "Have a nice day!" and "Have a happy day!" were being plastered onto t-shirts, mugs, and badges.
  • Bell-bottoms.

    Bell-bottoms

    Bell-bottoms (flares) were in fashion.
  • The Vietnam War is still ongoing.

    The Vietnam War is still ongoing

    During 1971, the war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, the US was beginning to wind down its presence in the country. Between 1970 and 1971, the number of US troops in Vietnam fell from 334,600 to 156,800.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1971?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1971?

    The best NBA players in 1971 were Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), John Havlicek, Billy Cunningham, Jerry West and Dave Bing.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1971, the best soccer players were Johan Cruyff, Sandro Mazzola, George Best, Günter Netzer, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Josip Skoblar, Martin Chivers, Piet Keizer, Bobby Moore and Ferenc Bene.
  • The French Connection.

    The French Connection

    "The French Connection" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1971.
  • James Taylor & Carole King - "You've Got a Friend"

    James Taylor & Carole King - "You've Got a Friend"

    "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor & Carole King won a Grammy for 1971's Song of the Year.
  • 1971 in movies.

    1971 in movies

    Movies released in 1971 included Fiddler on the Roof, The French Connection, Dirty Harry, Diamonds Are Forever, Billy Jack, Summer of '42, The Last Picture Show, Carnal Knowledge, A Clockwork Orange, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Harold and Maude, Klute and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
  • Richard Nixon.

    Richard Nixon

    US President Richard Nixon was named Time Person of the Year in 1971.
  • 1971 in music.

    1971 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1971 were dominated by the likes of Dawn, Three Dog Night, Rod Stewart, The Bee Gees, Carole King, Melanie, The Osmonds, The Temptations, The Raiders, Isaac Hayes, Donny Osmond and Cher.
  • Wallpaper.

    Wallpaper

    Wallpaper was extremely common in people's homes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn't until the mid-late 1980s that "modernism" started to creep in.
  • Office workers are using typewriters.

    Office workers are using typewriters

    Although personal computers began to emerge during the 1970s, typewriters were still the norm for most office workers.
  • 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 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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 16, 1971.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 16, 1971.

  • November 16, 1971:
    • American socialite Edie Sedgwick dies of "probable acute barbiturate intoxication".
    • Alphabet murders: 10-year-old Carmen Colón is kidnapped by a motorist in Rochester, New York.
  • November 18, 1971: Alphabet murders: The body of missing 10-year-old girl Carmen Colón is found near Churchville in New York.
  • November 22, 1971: Feith Buidhe disaster: Five students and their expedition leader die during a blizzard on the Cairngorms mountain range in the Scottish Highlands.
  • November 23, 1971: China attends the United Nations for the first time.
  • November 24, 1971: A man called "D. B. Cooper" parachutes from a plane that he hijacked, carrying with him US$200,000 in ransom money. He is never seen again.
  • November 28, 1971: The Prime Minister of Jordan, Wasfi Tal, is assassinated by four Black September gunmen in the lobby of the Sheraton Cairo Hotel in Egypt.
  • December 1, 1971: John Lennon releases his song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".
  • December 2, 1971: The United Arab Emirates is formed.
  • December 3, 1971: The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 begins after Pakistan carries out a number of preemptive aerial strikes on Indian air stations.
  • December 4, 1971: 15 people lose their lives after the UVF bomb McGurk's Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • December 11, 1971:
    • McDonald's co-founder Maurice McDonald dies from a heart attack at the age of 69.
    • The Libertarian Party is founded in the United States.
  • December 13, 1971: The Disney film "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" is released in the United States.
  • December 15, 1971: Pakistan foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto storms out of a UN Security Council meeting after accusing the body of allowing India to capture Dacca.
  • This date: December 16, 1971
  • December 17, 1971: The James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever" is released.
  • December 18, 1971: The US dollar is devalued for the second time in history.
  • December 23, 1971:
    • Jimmy Hoffa is released from prison after serving five years for jury tampering and wire fraud.
    • The action-thriller film "Dirty Harry" is released in movie theaters.
  • December 25, 1971: 158 people are killed when a fire breaks out at a hotel in South Korea.
  • December 27, 1971: The last episode of the sitcom "Nanny and the Professor" is aired on TV.
  • December 31, 1971: American actor Pete Duel dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
  • January 4, 1972: The first scientific hand-held calculator is released.
  • January 7, 1972: 104 people are killed when Iberia Airlines Flight 602 crashes into the island of Ibiza.
  • January 14, 1972: The sitcom "Sanford and Son" makes its debut on NBC.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 16, 1971

TV audiences were watching the following shows on December 16, 1971:

TV shows from December 1971.

Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Soul Train
Soul Train
McMillan & Wife
McMillan & Wife
The Persuaders!
The Persuaders!
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
All in the Family
All in the Family
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Flip Wilson Show
The Flip Wilson Show

Cars in 1971

1971 saw the introduction of cars such as the Buick Centurion, the Subaru Leone, the AMC Matador, the Morris Marina, the Alpine A310, and the Pontiac Grand Safari.

Cars in 1971.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on December 16, 1971

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1971:

The Electric Company
The Electric Company
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Archie's TV Funnies
Archie's TV Funnies

The Funky Phantom
The Funky Phantom
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
All in the Family
All in the Family
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Groovie Goolies
Groovie Goolies
Josie and the Pussycats
Josie and the Pussycats
Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Clangers
The Clangers
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1971

Toys and games that were popular in 1971:

Uno (card game)
Uno (card game)
The Rock Flowers dolls
The Rock Flowers dolls
Weebles
Weebles
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
Nerf Balls
Nerf Balls
Frisbee
Frisbee
Crissy (doll)
Crissy (doll)
Clackers
Clackers
Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Twister mat
Twister mat

Were you born on December 16, 1971?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1971.

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 16, 1977, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 16.

Xander Berkeley

Xander Berkeley

Actor
Born on December 16, 1955
He turned 16 on this day in 1971.

Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks

Stand-up comedian Deceased
Born on December 16, 1961
He turned 10 on this day in 1971.

Brodie Lee

Brodie Lee

Wrestler Deceased
Born on December 16, 1979
He was born exactly 8 years after this date.

Mats Hummels

Mats Hummels

German soccer player
Born on December 16, 1988
He was born exactly 17 years after this date.

Kai Cenat

Kai Cenat

Streamer
Born on December 16, 2001
He was born exactly 30 years after this date.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on December 16, 1971.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Edward Heath 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 16, 1971 was most likely conceived around March 25, 1971.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 16, 1971 is close to September 7, 1972.

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Stats for December 16, 1971

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 16, 1971:

  • 19,346 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,763 weeks have passed.
  • 1,671,494,400 seconds have passed since December 16, 1971.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,950,076,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 862,491,110,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 278,582,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 143,748,518 steps. That's roughly 63,888 miles.
  • 20,057,933 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1971?

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