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December 21, 1983

December 21, 1983, was a Wednesday. It was 40 years, 3 months, and 28 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 21, 1983:

  • Van Halen release the song "Jump".
Birthdays

Born on December 21, 1983

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 21, 1983:

  • United States: "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
  • United Kingdom: "Only You" by Flying Pickets

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 21, 1983

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Say Say Say - Paul McCartney And Michael Jackson
  • Say It Isn't So - Daryl Hall John Oates
  • All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
  • Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
  • Union Of The Snake - Duran Duran
Play the top singles from 1983
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1983. Take a trip back to the days of Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, the Police, Elton John and Phil Collins.
Terms of Endearment

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Terms of Endearment".

Facts

This date occurred 14,730 days ago. Approximately 491 months have passed. It was the 355th day of 1983, in week 51. The decade was the eighties. The start of 1984 was just 10 days away. People who were born on December 21, 1983, are now 40 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 164 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 21, 1983

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is December 21, 1983, and it's a Wednesday. 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 1983 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 "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson is at the top of the singles charts, while "Only You" by Flying Pickets is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Terms of Endearment 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 "The Two Ronnies", "Cagney & Lacey", "Family Ties", and "Knight Rider". In fashion, women are wearing jelly shoes, turtleneck sweaters, loose high-waist pants, crop tops, and puffer jackets lined with fur. Meanwhile, men have been ditching the disco look of the 1970s in favor of athletic clothing such as tracksuits and sports jerseys. The "preppy" look has also been making a comeback.

Because it's 1983, the radio stations are being dominated by artists such as Culture Club, Michael Jackson, Irene Cara, David Bowie and The Police. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Marvin Gaye, Andy Kaufman, and Truman Capote would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Space Invaders", "Lunar Lander", "Asteroids", and "Donkey Kong".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Bugs Bunny Show", "Cockleshell Bay", "Fraggle Rock", and "Alvin and the Chipmunks". Children are playing with toys such as Big Jim (action figure), the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, and Turnin' Turbo Dashboard.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 21, 1983.

  • Christmas 1983 is days away.

    Christmas 1983 is days away

    Christmas 1983 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.
  • 1983 in music.

    1983 in music

    Popular music artists in 1983 included The Police, Michael Jackson, Irene Cara, Men at Work, Bonnie Tyler, Hall & Oates, Michael Sembello, Eurythmics, Culture Club and Dexys Midnight Runners.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1983?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1983?

    The best NBA players in 1983 were Moses Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Sidney Moncrief and Julius Erving.
  • 1983 in movies.

    1983 in movies

    Movies released in 1983 included Return of the Jedi, Terms of Endearment, Flashdance, Trading Places, National Lampoon's Vacation, WarGames, Scarface, Octopussy, Sudden Impact, Staying Alive, Mr. Mom and Risky Business.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1983, the best soccer players were Michel Platini, Kenny Dalglish, Allan Simonsen, Gordon Strachan, Felix Magath, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Rinat Dasayev, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Jesper Olsen, Bryan Robson and Fernando Gomes.
  • Terms of Endearment.

    Terms of Endearment

    "Terms of Endearment" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1983.
  • Time Person of the Year: 1983.

    Time Person of the Year: 1983

    Ronald Reagan and Yuri Andropov were both named Time Person of the Year in 1983.
  • The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

    The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

    "Every Breath You Take" by The Police went on to win a Grammy for 1983's Song of the Year.
  • The Commodore 64.

    The Commodore 64

    The Commodore 64 was dominating the home computer market.
  • Leg warmers.

    Leg warmers

    Wearing leg warmers was a popular fad during this period. The trend was popularized by movies such as Fame and Flashdance.
  • VCRs are becoming popular.

    VCRs are becoming popular

    VCRs started to become a popular household item during the first half of the 1980s. However, they were still very costly. This device gave people the ability to play VCR tapes and record TV programs and movies.
  • Iran-Iraq War.

    Iran-Iraq War

    Between September 1980 and August 1988, an armed conflict was being fought between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iraqi Republic.
  • Early 1980s fashion.

    Early 1980s fashion

    The early 1980s saw a minimalist approach to fashion, with some trends carrying over from the late 1970s. Sweaters, fur-lined puffer jackets, tunics, ripped jeans, leotards, velour tracksuits, tube tops, knee-length skirts, high-waisted pants, and embroidered jeans were all popular. The colors during the early 1980s were subdued, quiet, and basic. Varying shades of brown, tan, and orange were in fashion.
  • Computers are replacing typewriters.

    Computers are replacing typewriters

    Desktop computers were beginning to replace typewriters in offices.
  • TV remotes.

    TV remotes

    Although TV remotes existed, many homes didn't have one. Infrared technology was still relatively new.
  • The Atari 2600.

    The Atari 2600

    The Atari 2600 was the dominant video game system.
  • The Walkman.

    The Walkman

    In the late 1970s and 1980s, portable cassette players such as the "Sony Walkman" were becoming more common.
  • 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 21, 1983.

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 21, 1983.

  • November 24, 1983: The United Kingdom is shocked when 15-year-old Lynda Mann is found raped and strangled in the village of Narborough.
  • November 25, 1983: Boxing: Larry Holmes defeats Marvis Frazier by technical knockout after the referee stops the fight in the first round.
  • November 27, 1983: 181 people are killed when Avianca Flight 011 crashes near Madrid, Spain.
  • December 9, 1983: The film Scarface (1983) is released.
  • December 16, 1983: Soccer: Arsenal manager Terry Neill is sacked.
  • December 17, 1983:
    • A fire at a nightclub in Madrid, Spain, kills 83 people.
    • A Provisional IRA car bomb kills 6 people outside of Harrods in London.
  • December 19, 1983: The original FIFA World Cup trophy is stolen in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • This date: December 21, 1983
  • December 28, 1983: Beach Boys co-founder Dennis Wilson drowns in Marina del Rey, California.
  • December 31, 1983: Five people are killed after two bombs explode in France.
  • January 18, 1984: A coal mine explosion in Japan kills 83 people.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 21, 1983, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1983 was the year of the .
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 9.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 21, 1983 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.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in December 1983

People in December 1983 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from December 1983.

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
The A-Team
The A-Team
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
Cheers
Cheers
Knight Rider
Knight Rider
Family Ties
Family Ties
Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Dynasty
Dynasty
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Knots Landing
Knots Landing

Cars in 1983

1983 saw the introduction of cars such as the BMW M6, the Dodge Charger (1981), the Chrysler E-Class, the Ford Fiesta Mk2, the Renault 25, and the Honda Civic (third generation).

Cars in 1983.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in December 1983

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

Mister T
Mister T
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons

Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
The Littles
The Littles
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Toys

Toys in 1983

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

Turnin' Turbo Dashboard
Turnin' Turbo Dashboard
My Little Pony (figures)
My Little Pony (figures)
The Commodore 64
The Commodore 64
Masters of the Universe (figures)
Masters of the Universe (figures)
The Lego train set
The Lego train set
Fisher-Price Little People (Farm)
Fisher-Price Little People (Farm)
Space Lego
Space Lego
Fischer Price cassette player
Fischer Price cassette player
Monchhichi / Chicaboo
Monchhichi / Chicaboo
Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube
Strawberry Shortcake dolls
Strawberry Shortcake dolls
The Big Wheel (tricycle)
The Big Wheel (tricycle)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1983.

Mario Bros. 1983
Mario Bros.
Donkey Kong 1981
Donkey Kong
Missile Command 1980
Missile Command
Pac-Man 1980
Pac-Man
Galaxian 1980
Galaxian
Asteroids 1979
Asteroids
Lunar Lander 1979
Lunar Lander
Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders

Were you born on December 21, 1983?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1983.

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 21, 1989, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 21.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda

Actress
Born on December 21, 1937
She turned 46 on this day in 1983.

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Musician Deceased
Born on December 21, 1940
He turned 43 on this day in 1983.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson

Actor
Born on December 21, 1948
He turned 35 on this day in 1983.

Jane Kaczmarek

Jane Kaczmarek

Actress
Born on December 21, 1955
She turned 28 on this day in 1983.

Ray Romano

Ray Romano

Actor
Born on December 21, 1957
He turned 26 on this day in 1983.

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland

Actor
Born on December 21, 1966
He turned 17 on this day in 1983.

Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron

French president
Born on December 21, 1977
He turned 6 on this day in 1983.

The King of Random

The King of Random

Youtube personality Deceased
Born on December 21, 1980
He turned 3 on this day in 1983.

Kaitlyn Dever

Kaitlyn Dever

Actress
Born on December 21, 1996
She was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Ben Chilwell

Ben Chilwell

Soccer player
Born on December 21, 1996
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on December 21, 1983.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Garret FitzGerald was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on December 21, 1983 was most likely conceived around March 30, 1983.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 21, 1983 is close to September 12, 1984.

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Stats for December 21, 1983

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 21, 1983:

  • 14,730 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,104 weeks have passed.
  • 1,272,668,400 seconds have passed since December 21, 1983.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,484,779,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 656,696,894,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 212,111,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 109,449,482 steps. That's roughly 48,644 miles.
  • 15,272,021 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1983?

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