BestOfDate

December 17, 1988

December 17, 1988, was a Saturday. It was 35 years, 10 months, and 19 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Sagittarius.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 17, 1988:

  • United States: "Look Away" by Chicago
  • United Kingdom: "Mistletoe And Wine" by Cliff Richard

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 17, 1988

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Look Away - Chicago
  • Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
  • Giving You The Best That I Got - Anita Baker
  • My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
  • Waiting For A Star To Fall - Boy Meets Girl
Play the top singles from 1988
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1988. Let us bring you back to the days of Tracy Chapman, George Michael, Guns N' Roses and Phil Collins!
The Naked Gun

Top movie

The movie "The Naked Gun" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 13,107 days ago. Approximately 437 months have passed. It was the 352nd day of 1988, in week 50. The decade was the eighties. The end of 1988 was just 14 days away. People who were born on December 17, 1988, are now 35 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 1988 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. We have gone through approximately 146 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to December 17, 1988

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is December 17, 1988, and it's a Saturday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The work week is over and Saturday has finally come, so people are spending time with their kids, going to bars, shopping, playing video games, and watching sports.

The Christmas season of 1988 is in full swing. People are putting up their decorations and festive songs are playing on the radio. In America, the song "Look Away" by Chicago is at the top of the singles charts, while "Mistletoe And Wine" by Cliff Richard is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie The Naked Gun 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 "Murder, She Wrote", "Charles in Charge", "The Golden Girls", and "Married... with Children". In fashion, women are wearing sweater dresses, short skirts, small shoulder pads, animal print, long full wool coats, and bulky sweaters. Meanwhile, men are wearing tracksuits, sweatshirts, Nike Air Jordan shoes, and denim.

It's 1988, so the airwaves are being dominated by music artists such as Phil Collins, Bobby McFerrin, the Pet Shop Boys, Belinda Carlisle and Rick Astley. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Ruhollah Khomeini, Mel Blanc, and Paul C would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Tetris", "Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar", "Paperboy", and "RoboCop".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Muppet Babies", "ThunderCats", "Adventures of the Little Koala", and "The World of David the Gnome". Children are playing with toys such as Speak & Spell, Screwball Scramble, My Little Pony (figures), and Laser Tag.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 17, 1988, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1988 was the year of the Dragon (Yang Earth).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 17, 1988 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 17, 1988.

  • Christmas 1988.

    Christmas 1988

    The Christmas period of 1988 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.
  • Gangsta rap is becoming a thing.

    Gangsta rap is becoming a thing

    West Coast gangsta pap was beginning to take off. On August 8th, 1988, N.W.A released their iconic album "Straight Outta Compton."
  • 1988 in music.

    1988 in music

    Popular music artists in 1988 included George Michael, INXS, George Harrison, Rick Astley, Guns N' Roses, Whitney Houston, Belinda Carlisle, Tiffany and Breathe.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1988?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1988?

    The best NBA players in 1988 were Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Akeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird.
  • 1988 in movies.

    1988 in movies

    Movies released in 1988 included Rain Man, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Coming to America, Big, Twins, Crocodile Dundee II, Die Hard, Beetlejuice, The Land Before Time and Bloodsport.
  • Best soccer players in the world.

    Best soccer players in the world

    In 1988, the best soccer players were Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Diego Maradona, Frank Rijkaard, Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko, Ronald Koeman, Lothar Matthäus, Gianluca Vialli, Franco Baresi, Jürgen Klinsmann and Oleksandr Zavarov.
  • Rain Man.

    Rain Man

    "Rain Man" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1988.
  • The Endangered Earth.

    The Endangered Earth

    "The Endangered Earth" was named Time Person of the Year in 1988. The piece highlighted humanity's carelessness towards nature, pollution, and the depletion of the ozone layer.
  • Bobby McFerrin - "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

    Bobby McFerrin - "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

    The song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin won a Grammy for 1988's Song of the Year.
  • The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable.

    The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable

    A new elastic hair tie called the "scrunchie" became fashionable in the late 1980s.
  • Late 1980s fashion.

    Late 1980s fashion

    The mini skirt became extremely popular. Shoulder pads became increasingly smaller. Popular clothing included reversible inside-out coats, bright-colored shoes with thin heels, berets, lacy gloves, rugby sweatshirts, sweater dresses, jumpsuits, capri leggings, bike shorts, and skirts worn with leggings. Colors included neon hues, plum, gold, and bright wines.
  • People are buying waterbeds.

    People are buying waterbeds

    Waterbeds became a huge fad during the late 1980s. Although they were invented in the 1970s, they didn't reach their heyday until the 1980s. In 1986 and 1987, nearly a quarter of all beds sold were filled with water.
  • VCRs have become a common household item.

    VCRs have become a common household item

    VCRs became a common household item in the mid-1980s. By that stage, prices had started to drop. This device gave people the ability to play VCR tapes and record TV programs and movies.
  • The Nintendo Entertainment System.

    The Nintendo Entertainment System

    During the second half of the 1980s, the Nintendo Entertainment System became one of the most popular video game consoles in the world. Releases for the NES included Duck Hunt, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Bros.
  • The Commodore 64.

    The Commodore 64

    The Commodore 64 was dominating the home computer market.
  • 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.
  • 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 17, 1988.

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 17, 1988.

  • November 18, 1988: The animated movie The Land Before Time (1988) is released in movie theaters.
  • November 19, 1988: 9-year-old Michaela Garecht is abducted in Hayward, California.
  • December 2, 1988:
    • The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) is released.
    • Benazir Bhutto becomes the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.
  • December 4, 1988: Actor Gary Busey suffers permanent brain damage in a motorcycle accident.
  • December 5, 1988: Christian Televangelist Jim Bakker is indicted on charges of fraud.
  • December 6, 1988: American singer Roy Orbison dies from a heart attack at the age of 52.
  • December 8, 1988: Five people are killed when a US Air Force jet crashes into an apartment complex in Remscheid, Germany.
  • December 9, 1988:
    • The film Mississippi Burning (1988) is released.
    • The movie Twins (1988) is released.
  • December 12, 1988: 35 people are killed after two trains collide near Clapham Junction railway station in London.
  • December 16, 1988:
    • Rain Man (1988) is released in cinemas.
    • Disco singer "Sylvester" dies from AIDS.
  • This date: December 17, 1988
  • December 21, 1988: Pan Am Flight 103 is blown up by terrorists as it flies over Lockerbie in Scotland. 270 people are killed.
  • December 22, 1988: Trade union leader and environmentalist, Chico Mendes, is assassinated in Xapuri, Brazil.
  • January 5, 1989: Pop star Madonna files for divorce from actor Senn Penn for the second and final time.
  • January 10, 1989: American rock band Guns N' Roses release their song "Paradise City".

Late 1980s fashion

Photographs of late 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 17, 1988

People in December 1988 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from December 1988.

Roseanne
Roseanne
In the Heat of the Night
In the Heat of the Night
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Full House
Full House
My Two Dads
My Two Dads
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Matlock
Matlock
MacGyver
MacGyver
The Equalizer
The Equalizer
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls

Cars in 1988

1988 saw the introduction of cars such as the Buick Reatta, the Ford Probe, the Opel Vectra, the Honda Concerto, the Audi V8, and the Volkswagen Passat B3.

Cars in 1988.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in December 1988

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

Noozles
Noozles
Roseanne
Roseanne
Garfield and Friends
Garfield and Friends

Denver, the Last Dinosaur
Denver, the Last Dinosaur
Count Duckula
Count Duckula
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The World of David the Gnome
The World of David the Gnome
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Fireman Sam
Fireman Sam
Full House
Full House
Toys

Toys in 1988

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

The Ghostbusters Proton Pack
The Ghostbusters Proton Pack
Koosh Ball
Koosh Ball
Boglins (hand puppets)
Boglins (hand puppets)
Jenga
Jenga
Micro Machines
Micro Machines
Hot Looks (fashion model dolls)
Hot Looks (fashion model dolls)
Popples
Popples
Fluppy Dogs
Fluppy Dogs
Laser Tag
Laser Tag
The Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System
Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families
Mr Frosty
Mr Frosty
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1988.

RoboCop 1988
RoboCop
Super Mario Bros. 3 1988
Super Mario Bros. 3
Gain Ground 1988
Gain Ground
Altered Beast 1988
Altered Beast
Final Fantasy 1987
Final Fantasy
Maniac Mansion
 1987
Maniac Mansion
Platoon 1987
Platoon
Top Gun 1987
Top Gun
Metroid 1987
Metroid
Double Dragon 1987
Double Dragon
Paperboy 1986
Paperboy
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Were you born on December 17, 1988?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1988.

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 17, 1994, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 17.

Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Pope
Born on December 17, 1936
He turned 52 on this day in 1988.

Bill Pullman

Bill Pullman

Actor
Born on December 17, 1953
He turned 35 on this day in 1988.

Chuck Liddell

Chuck Liddell

MMA fighter
Born on December 17, 1969
He turned 19 on this day in 1988.

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao

Boxer
Born on December 17, 1978
He turned 10 on this day in 1988.

Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning

Whistleblower
Born on December 17, 1987
She turned 1 on this day in 1988.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on December 17, 1988.

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 17, 1988 was most likely conceived around March 26, 1988.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 17, 1988 is close to September 9, 1989.

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Stats for December 17, 1988

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 17, 1988:

  • 13,107 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,872 weeks have passed.
  • 1,132,444,800 seconds have passed since December 17, 1988.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,321,185,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 584,341,516,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 188,740,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 97,390,253 steps. That's roughly 43,285 miles.
  • 13,589,338 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1988?

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