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December 31, 1978 New Year's Eve

December 31, 1978, was a Sunday. It was 45 years, 10 months, and 21 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

Song charts

Popular songs

On December 31, 1978, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

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

The music charts on December 31, 1978

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Le Freak - Chic
  • Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
  • You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
  • My Life - Billy Joel
  • I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'round) - Alicia Bridges
Play the top singles 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

New Year's Eve 1978 occurred 16,762 days ago. Approximately 559 months have passed. It was the 365th day of 1978, in week 52. The decade was the seventies. It was the last day of the year. People who were born on December 31, 1978, are now 45 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 186 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 31, 1978

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is December 31, 1978, 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 1979 will bring. 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. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Little House on the Prairie", "Barney Miller", "Chips", and "Dallas". 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. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Sid Vicious and John Wayne would be still alive. People are playing video games such as "Pursuit", "Gun Fight", "Breakout", and "Space Invaders".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "The Bugs Bunny Show", "Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels", "Fred Flintstone and Friends", and "Battle of the Planets". Children are playing with toys such as Troll doll, the Atari 2600, Speak & Spell, and Cabbage Patch Kids.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 31, 1978, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1978 was the year of the Horse (Yang Metal).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 5.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 31, 1978 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, 1978.

  • 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 31, 1978.

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, 1978.

  • 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.
  • December 20, 1978: Serial killer John Wayne Gacy confesses his crimes to police.
  • 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.
  • This date: December 31, 1978
  • 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.
  • January 21, 1979: Super Bowl XIII: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Dallas Cowboys by 35-31 at the Miami Orange Bowl.
  • January 29, 1979: US President Jimmy Carter commutes the prison sentence of Patty Hearst.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in December 1978

In December 1978, TV audiences were watching the following 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

Cartoons and children's TV shows in December 1978

If you were a kid on December 31, 1978, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

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

Toys in 1978

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

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 31, 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 31, 1984, 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 41 on this day in 1978.

Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson

Soccer manager
Born on December 31, 1941
He turned 37 on this day in 1978.

John Denver

John Denver

American singer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1943
He turned 35 on this day in 1978.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer

Actor
Born on December 31, 1959
He turned 19 on this day in 1978.

John Allen Muhammad

John Allen Muhammad

Convicted murderer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1960
He turned 18 on this day in 1978.

Psy

Psy

South Korean singer
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 1 on this day in 1978.

Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr.

American businessman
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 1 on this day in 1978.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer

Actress
Born on December 31, 1998
She was born exactly 20 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on December 31:

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on December 31, 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 31, 1978 was most likely conceived around April 9, 1978.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 31, 1978 is close to September 23, 1979.

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Stats for December 31, 1978

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 31, 1978:

  • 16,762 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,394 weeks have passed.
  • 1,448,236,800 seconds have passed since December 31, 1978.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,689,609,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 747,290,188,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 241,372,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 124,548,365 steps. That's roughly 55,355 miles.
  • 17,378,842 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1978?

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