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December 20, 1978

December 20, 1978, was a Wednesday. It was 45 years, 11 months, and 16 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 20, 1978:

  • Serial killer John Wayne Gacy confesses his crimes to police.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 20, 1978:

  • United States: "Le Freak" by Chic
  • United Kingdom: "Mary's Boy Child" by Boney M

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 20, 1978

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
  • Le Freak - Chic
  • Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
  • I Just Wanna Stop - Gino Vannelli
  • My Life - Billy Joel
Play the top songs from 1978
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1978. Take a trip back to the days of the Bee Gees, the Dire Straits, Eric Clapton and Frankie Valli.
Superman

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Superman".

Facts

This date was 16,787 days ago. Approximately 560 months have passed. It was the 354th day of 1978, in week 51. The decade was the seventies. The start of 1979 was just 11 days away. People born on this day are currently 45 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 187 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 20, 1978

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Wednesday, December 20, 1978. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

Christmas Day of 1978 is fast approaching and the excitement is building. Department stores are packed with Christmas shoppers, and people are meeting up with friends that they haven't seen in a while. In America, the song "Le Freak" by Chic is at the top of the singles charts, while "Mary's Boy Child" by Boney M is the number-one song in the UK. Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Superman is at the top of the box office.

James Callaghan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In fashion, clothes have become baggier and pants have become less flared. Sports clothing and the "disco look" are both popular at the moment. Women are wearing sundresses, strapless tops with t-shirts, shoulder pads, cardigans, knee-length skirts and daisy dukes. Meanwhile, men are wearing tracksuits, flare jeans, low-top sneakers and untucked collared shirts. Because it's 1978, the music charts are being dominated by the likes of the Bee Gees, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, the Village People, Boney M and Andy Gibb.

The film "Superman" has just been released in movie theaters. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Sid Vicious and John Wayne would be still alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Last of the Summer Wine", "Three's Company", "Soap", and "Chips".

Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Pursuit", "Gun Fight", "Breakout", and "Space Invaders". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "All in the Family", "Schoolhouse Rock!", "Happy Days", and "Diff'rent Strokes". Popular toys at the moment include Lite-Brite, Mattel Electronic Football (handheld game), Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Simon (memory game).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 20, 1978, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1978 was the year of the Horse (Yang Metal).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 20, 1978 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 20, 1978.

  • Christmas 1978 is days away.

    Christmas 1978 is days away

    Christmas 1978 was just days 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. Schools, colleges, and non-retail businesses were also beginning to close for the holiday season.
  • Iranian Revolution.

    Iranian Revolution

    Between January 1978 and February 1979, a revolutionary movement formed in Iran. This eventually led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
  • 1978 in music.

    1978 in music

    Popular music artists in 1978 included Andy Gibb, The Bee Gees, Debby Boone, Exile, Player, A Taste of Honey, Commodores, Frankie Valli, Kate Bush, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, Eric Clapton, Paul Davis and Samantha Sang.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1978?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1978?

    The best NBA players in 1978 were Bill Walton, Truck Robinson, Julius Erving, George Gervin and David Thompson.
  • 1978 in movies.

    1978 in movies

    Movies released in 1978 included Grease, Superman, Animal House, Every Which Way but Loose, Heaven Can Wait, Hooper, Jaws 2, Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Deer Hunter, Halloween, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Dawn of the Dead.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1978, the best soccer players were Kevin Keegan, Hans Krankl, Rob Rensenbrink, Roberto Bettega, Paolo Rossi, Ronnie Hellström, Ruud Krol, Kenny Dalglish, Allan Simonsen and Peter Shilton.
  • The Deer Hunter.

    The Deer Hunter

    "The Deer Hunter" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978.
  • Time Person of the Year: 1978.

    Time Person of the Year: 1978

    China's Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping was named the Time Person of the Year in 1978 after he overthrew Hua Guofeng and became the Supreme Leader of China.
  • Billy Joel - "Just the Way You Are"

    Billy Joel - "Just the Way You Are"

    "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel won a Grammy for 1978's Song of the Year.
  • Roller skates.

    Roller skates

    The popularity of roller skates exploded during the second half of the 1970s.
  • Disco music.

    Disco music

    Disco music became mainstream during the latter half of the 1970s. Nightclub-goers often wore extravagant outfits. Furthermore, dances such as the "Hustle", the "Bump" and the "Penguin" also became popular.
  • Hitchhiking is declining.

    Hitchhiking is declining

    Although hitchhiking is still pretty common, it is beginning to decline due to people's falling trust in strangers, lower air travel prices, an increase in highways, and more affordable cars.
  • 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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 20, 1978.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 20, 1978.

  • November 27, 1978: San Francisco mayor George Moscone is murdered.
  • December 11, 1978: The Lufthansa heist at John F. Kennedy International Airport is carried out by associates of the Lucchese family.
  • December 16, 1978: The City of Cleveland enters into a financial default on federal loans.
  • This date: December 20, 1978
  • December 22, 1978: American serial killer John Wayne Gacey is arrested and admits to committing 25+ murders.
  • December 27, 1978: The Constitution of Spain is approved in a referendum, officially ending 40 years of military dictatorship.
  • January 1, 1979: Soccer: Gary Lineker makes his senior debut.
  • January 12, 1979: Serial killer Kenneth Bianchi (Hillside Stranglers) is arrested in Washington.
  • January 16, 1979: Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 20, 1978

People in December 1978 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from December 1978.

WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
Taxi
Taxi
Dallas
Dallas
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Chips
Chips
Soap
Soap
Eight Is Enough
Eight Is Enough
Three's Company
Three's Company
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
What's Happening!!
What's Happening!!

Cars in 1978

1978 saw the introduction of cars such as the Chrysler Horizon, the Saab 900, the Mitsubishi Mirage, the Ford Fairmont, the Toyota Supra, and the AMC Concord.

Cars in 1978.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on December 20, 1978

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1978:

Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Mork & Mindy
Mork & Mindy
Battle of the Planets
Battle of the Planets

The All New Popeye Hour
The All New Popeye Hour
Godzilla
Godzilla
The New Fantastic Four
The New Fantastic Four
Fred Flintstone and Friends
Fred Flintstone and Friends
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The All-New Super Friends Hour
The All-New Super Friends Hour
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
Bagpuss
Bagpuss
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1978

Toys and games that were popular in 1978:

Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids
Speak & Spell
Speak & Spell
Simon (memory game)
Simon (memory game)
Shogun Warriors
Shogun Warriors
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Water Ring Toss
Water Ring Toss
The Atari 2600
The Atari 2600
Star Wars action figures
Star Wars action figures
Mattel Electronic Football (handheld game)
Mattel Electronic Football (handheld game)
Lego Technic
Lego Technic
Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong
Micronauts
Micronauts
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1978.

Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Breakout 1976
Breakout
Gun Fight 1975
Gun Fight
Pursuit 1975
Pursuit

Were you born on December 20, 1978?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1978.

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 20, 1984, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

John Spencer

John Spencer

Actor Deceased
Born on December 20, 1946
He turned 32 on this day in 1978.

Paul Ritter

Paul Ritter

English actor Deceased
Born on December 20, 1966
He turned 12 on this day in 1978.

Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole

Soccer player
Born on December 20, 1980
He was born exactly 2 years after this date.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill

Actor
Born on December 20, 1983
He was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Lucy Pinder

Lucy Pinder

Model
Born on December 20, 1983
She was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Gia Allemand

Gia Allemand

Model and Reality TV star Deceased
Born on December 20, 1983
She was born exactly 5 years after this date.

JoJo

JoJo

Singer
Born on December 20, 1990
She was born exactly 12 years after this date.

Jorginho

Jorginho

Soccer player
Born on December 20, 1991
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Dylan Wang

Dylan Wang

Chinese actor
Born on December 20, 1998
He was born exactly 20 years after this date.

Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé

Soccer player
Born on December 20, 1998
He was born exactly 20 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on December 20, 1978.

UK

UK Prime Minister

James Callaghan 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 20, 1978 was most likely conceived around March 29, 1978.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 20, 1978 is close to September 12, 1979.

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Stats for December 20, 1978

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 20, 1978:

  • 16,787 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,398 weeks have passed.
  • 1,450,396,800 seconds have passed since December 20, 1978.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,692,129,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 748,404,748,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 241,732,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 124,734,125 steps. That's roughly 55,437 miles.
  • 17,404,762 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1978?

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