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December 31, 1979 New Year's Eve

December 31, 1979, was a Monday. It was 44 years, 10 months, and 21 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

Song charts

Popular songs

On December 31, 1979, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Please Don't Go" by KC & Sunshine Band
  • United Kingdom: "Another Brick In The Wall" by Pink Floyd

The music charts on December 31, 1979

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
  • Please Don't Go - KC And The Sunshine Band
  • Babe - Styx
  • Send One Your Love - Stevie Wonder
  • Still - Commodores
Play the top singles from 1979
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1979. Take a trip back to the days of Donna Summer, ABBA, Bob Seger and the Bee Gees.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".

Facts

New Year's Eve 1979 occurred 16,397 days ago. Approximately 547 months have passed. It was the 365th day of 1979, in week 01. The decade was the seventies. It was the last day of the year. People who were born on December 31, 1979, are now 44 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 182 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 31, 1979

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is December 31, 1979, and it's a Monday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Capricorn. The weekend has just passed, so some people are feeling a bit down. Others are tired after partying too much.

It's New Year's Eve, and everyone is wondering what the year 1980 will bring. The seventies are drawing to a close, and a new decade awaits. In America, the song "Please Don't Go" by KC & Sunshine Band is at the top of the singles charts, while "Another Brick In The Wall" by Pink Floyd is the number-one song in the UK.

Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture is at the top of the box office. Margaret Thatcher is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Eight Is Enough", "Soap", "Chips", and "Archie Bunker's Place".

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 1979, the music charts are being dominated by the likes of Blondie, Gloria Gaynor, M, Donna Summer, Patrick Hernandez, The Knack and Rod Stewart. The movie "Kramer vs. Kramer" is being shown in movie theaters.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Alfred Hitchcock, Ian Curtis, Dorothy Stratten, and Steve McQueen would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Gun Fight", "Space Invaders", "Lunar Lander", and "Asteroids". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids", "Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels", "The All New Popeye Hour", and "Mork & Mindy".

Children are playing with toys such as Lite-Brite, Lego Technic, Mattel Electronic Football (handheld game), and Cabbage Patch Kids.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 31, 1979, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1979 was the year of the Goat (Yin Metal).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 31, 1979 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, 1979.

  • The Atari 2600.

    The Atari 2600

    The Atari 2600 was the dominant video game system.
  • The Iran hostage crisis.

    The Iran hostage crisis

    The Iran hostage crisis was ongoing. Between November 4th, 1979, and January 20th, 1981, 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran. The hostages were taken into captivity after a group of Iranian college students stormed the US embassy in Tehran.
  • The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981.

    The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981

    During this time, the Atlanta murders of 1979–1981 were taking place. At least 28 children and young adults were murdered before Wayne Williams was eventually arrested and convicted.
  • 1979 in music.

    1979 in music

    Popular music artists in 1979 included The Knack, Donna Summer, Chic, Rod Stewart, Peaches & Herb, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, Anita Ward, Robert John and The Bee Gees.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1979?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1979?

    The best NBA players in 1979 were Moses Malone, Marques Johnson, Elvin Hayes, George Gervin and Paul Westphal.
  • 1979 in movies.

    1979 in movies

    Movies released in 1979 included Kramer vs. Kramer, The Amityville Horror, Rocky II, Apocalypse Now, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Alien, 10, The Jerk, Moonraker, The Muppet Movie, Monty Python's Life of Brian and The Warriors.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1979, the best soccer players were Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Ruud Krol, Manfred Kaltz, Michel Platini, Paolo Rossi, Trevor Francis, Liam Brady, Zbigniew Boniek, Zdenek Nehoda, Kenny Dalglish and Allan Simonsen.
  • The Walkman.

    The Walkman

    In the late 1970s and 1980s, portable cassette players such as the "Sony Walkman" were becoming more common.
  • Kramer vs. Kramer.

    Kramer vs. Kramer

    "Kramer vs. Kramer" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1979.
  • Ruhollah Khomeini.

    Ruhollah Khomeini

    The leader of the Iranian Revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini, was named Time Person of the Year in 1979.
  • The Doobie Brothers - "What a Fool Believes"

    The Doobie Brothers - "What a Fool Believes"

    "What a Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers won a Grammy for 1979'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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 31, 1979.

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, 1979.

  • December 3, 1979:
    • 11 fans are killed in a crush before a Who concert in Cincinnati.
    • Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the Supreme Leader of Iran.
  • December 5, 1979: Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland.
  • December 7, 1979:
    • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) is released in cinemas.
    • English rock band Led Zeppelin release their final single "Fool in the Rain".
    • The Clash releases their song "London Calling".
  • December 9, 1979: Smallpox is officially eradicated.
  • December 11, 1979: Charles Haughey becomes the new Taoiseach of Ireland.
  • December 14, 1979:
    • The Jerk (1979), starring Steve Martin, is released in cinemas.
    • The Clash release their album "London Calling".
  • December 16, 1979: O.J. Simpson plays his final NFL game.
  • December 19, 1979: The movie Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) is released in cinemas.
  • December 21, 1979: A black insurance salesman called Arthur McDuffie dies after being beaten by four police officers following a traffic stop in Miami.
  • December 23, 1979: Soviet forces occupy Kabul in Afghanistan.
  • December 24, 1979: The Soviet war in Afghanistan begins.
  • December 27, 1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan.
  • This date: December 31, 1979
  • January 3, 1980: Animal rights activist Joy Adamson is murdered in Kenya.
  • January 20, 1980: Super Bowl XIV: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Los Angeles Rams by 31-19 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
  • January 21, 1980: 128 people are killed when Iran Air Flight 291 crashes in the Alborz Mountains.
  • January 27, 1980: Six US diplomats escape Iran while posing as Canadians. In 2012, the story is made into a movie called Argo.
  • January 30, 1980: The Rubik's Cube makes its international debut.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in December 1979

In December 1979, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from December 1979.

Knots Landing
Knots Landing
Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Hart to Hart
Hart to Hart
The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
Taxi
Taxi
Dallas
Dallas
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Chips
Chips

Cars in 1979

1979 saw the introduction of cars such as the Chevrolet Citation, the Volkswagen Jetta, the Honda Civic (second generation), the Datsun Bluebird (910), the Vauxhall Astra, and the Dodge St. Regis.

Cars in 1979.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in December 1979

If you were a kid on December 31, 1979, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
Casper and the Angels
Casper and the Angels
Rickety Rocket
Rickety Rocket

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
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The All-New Super Friends Hour
The All-New Super Friends Hour
Toys

Toys in 1979

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

The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
Screwball Scramble
Screwball Scramble
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1979.

Asteroids 1979
Asteroids
Lunar Lander 1979
Lunar Lander
Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Breakout 1976
Breakout
Gun Fight 1975
Gun Fight

Were you born on December 31, 1979?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1979.

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, 1985, 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 42 on this day in 1979.

Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson

Soccer manager
Born on December 31, 1941
He turned 38 on this day in 1979.

John Denver

John Denver

American singer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1943
He turned 36 on this day in 1979.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer

Actor
Born on December 31, 1959
He turned 20 on this day in 1979.

John Allen Muhammad

John Allen Muhammad

Convicted murderer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1960
He turned 19 on this day in 1979.

Psy

Psy

South Korean singer
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 2 on this day in 1979.

Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr.

American businessman
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 2 on this day in 1979.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer

Actress
Born on December 31, 1998
She was born exactly 19 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, 1979.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Charles Haughey was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on December 31, 1979 was most likely conceived around April 9, 1979.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 31, 1979 is close to September 22, 1980.

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Stats for December 31, 1979

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 31, 1979:

  • 16,397 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,342 weeks have passed.
  • 1,416,700,800 seconds have passed since December 31, 1979.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,652,817,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 731,017,612,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 236,116,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 121,836,269 steps. That's roughly 54,149 miles.
  • 17,000,410 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1979?

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