BestOfDate

January 1, 1996 New Year's Day

January 1, 1996, was a Monday. It was 28 years, 10 months, and 13 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

Song charts

Music charts

Songs that were on top of the charts in the USA and the United Kingdom on January 1, 1996:

  • United States: "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
  • United Kingdom: "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson

The Billboard Hot 100 on January 1, 1996

These were the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • One Sweet Day - Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
  • Exhale (Shoop Shoop) (From "Waiting To Exhale") - Whitney Houston
  • Hey Lover - LL Cool J
  • Gangsta's Paradise (From "Dangerous Minds") - Coolio Featuring L.V.
  • Diggin' On You - TLC
Play the top singles from 1996
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1996. Take a trip back to the days of the Spice Girls, the Backstreet Boys, Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion and the Fugees.
Toy Story

Top movie at the box office

The movie "Toy Story" was at the top of the box office on January 1, 1996.

Facts

New Year's Day 1996 occurred 10,545 days ago. Approximately 352 months have passed. It was the 1st day of 1996, in week 01. The decade was the nineties. People who were born on January 1, 1996, are now 28 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. 1996 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. The Earth has experienced 117 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to January 1, 1996

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

The date is January 1, 1996, and it's a Monday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Capricorn. It's New Year's Day, the official start of the year 1996. A lot of people are relaxing at home. Some are nursing hangovers from the night before.

In America, the song "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men is at the top of the singles charts, while "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson is the number-one song in the UK. Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Toy Story is at the top of the box office. John Major is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Murder, She Wrote", "Walker, Texas Ranger", "The Nanny", and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". A new form of communication called "text messaging" is starting to become more widespread. However, it can only be done if both the sender and the receiver are on the same cell network. Meanwhile, a global system called "the Internet" is also starting to take off. Each day, more and more people are learning how to send emails and browse "websites" on the World Wide Web by connecting their IBM computers to noisy dial-up modems.

In fashion, "grunge" clothing has fallen out of favor, and women are beginning to wear form-fitting outfits such as slip dresses and pencil skirts. Movies such as Clueless and The Craft have popularized the "sexy schoolgirl" look. The CD is quickly becoming the dominant format for music, and people are buying portable players such as the "Discman". Consequently, sales of cassette tapes are continuing to decline. It's 1996, so radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Céline Dion, Oasis, Mark Morrison, Spice Girls, Los Del Rio, 2Pac and Coolio.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Margaux Hemingway, Agnieszka Kotlarska, Tupac Shakur, and Yaki Kadafi would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Theme Park", "Mortal Kombat 3", "Full Throttle", and "Destruction Derby". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Tales from the Cryptkeeper", "The Magic School Bus", "Timon & Pumbaa", and "Little Bear".

Children are playing with toys such as Sylvanian Families, Nerf Blaster, Littlest Pet Shop, and Street Sharks Action Figures.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 1, 1996, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1996 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 9.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 1, 1996 falls under the Goose.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 1, 1996.

  • 1996 in music.

    1996 in music

    Popular music artists in 1996 included Los del Río, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, 2Pac, LL Cool J, Soundgarden, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Alanis Morissette, Everything but the Girl, Joan Osborne, Mary J. Blige, SWV, Toni Braxton, Eric Clapton, Blackstreet, R. Kelly, Metallica and Van Halen.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1996?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1996?

    In 1996, the best NBA players were Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Penny Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Grant Hill, Hakeem Olajuwon, Gary Payton, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Juwan Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, Mitch Richmond and Reggie Miller.
  • David Ho.

    David Ho

    A scientist named David Ho was named Time Person of the Year in 1996 because of his pioneering contributions to HIV/AIDS research.
  • Gillian Anderson.

    Gillian Anderson

    The X-Files actress Gillian Anderson (Agent Scully) was named FHM's sexiest woman in 1996.
  • 1996 in movies.

    1996 in movies

    1996 saw the release of movies such as Independence Day, Twister, Mission: Impossible, The Rock, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 101 Dalmatians, Ransom, Eraser, The Nutty Professor, Jerry Maguire, Scream, The Cable Guy, Mars Attacks! and The Craft.
  • Best football players in 1996.

    Best football players in 1996

    In 1996, the best soccer players were Matthias Sammer, Ronaldo, Alan Shearer, Alessandro Del Piero, Jürgen Klinsmann, Davor Šuker, Eric Cantona, Marcel Desailly, Youri Djorkaeff, Karel Poborský and Nwankwo Kanu.
  • The English Patient.

    The English Patient

    "The English Patient" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1996.
  • Eric Clapton - "Change the World"

    Eric Clapton - "Change the World"

    The song "Change the World" by Eric Clapton went on to win a Grammy for 1996's Song of the Year.
  • Sony PlayStation.

    Sony PlayStation

    The Sony PlayStation (PS1) was released in September 1995. It was one of the best-selling video game consoles of the 1990s.
  • CDs have become the dominant music format.

    CDs have become the dominant music format

    By this stage, the CD had become the dominant music format. Consequently, sales of CD players and the "Discman" continued to increase. Meanwhile, people were beginning to replace their cassette players.
  • First Chechen War.

    First Chechen War

    The First Chechen War was raging between Russia and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
  • Mid-1990s fashion.

    Mid-1990s fashion

    During the mid-1990s, female clothing began to become more form-fitting as those badly-shaped "mom jeans" began to disappear. Grunge fashion started to decline, and popular outfits began to include tartan minikilts, hot pants, slip dresses, and knee-highs.
  • The Internet is growing.

    The Internet is growing

    A new global, interconnected network called the Internet was beginning to grow. However, it was still a novelty.
  • Kids are reading Goosebumps.

    Kids are reading Goosebumps

    Kids were reading Goosebumps, which was a series of children's horror books that were written by author R. L. Stine. The original series included books such as "Monster Blood", "Say Cheese and Die!" and "The Barking Ghost".
  • VCRs are common household items.

    VCRs are common household items

    Everyone was using VCRs to watch tapes of movies and TV shows. The device also gave people the ability to record programs and films onto a blank tape.
  • People are using pagers to communicate.

    People are using pagers to communicate

    Pagers achieved mainstream popularity during the 1990s. These small devices allowed the owner to receive messages. More often than not, the message was a short memo or a phone number that they were supposed to call back.
  • Wallpaper is beginning to go out of style.

    Wallpaper is beginning to go out of style

    By the 1990s, "modernism" was starting to heavily influence interior design trends. As a result, sales of wallpaper started to decline. Instead of using decorative wallpaper, people were beginning to opt for minimalist, painted walls.
  • The Scrunchie.

    The Scrunchie

    People are wearing an elastic hair tie called the "scrunchie".
  • The Game Boy.

    The Game Boy

    A hand-held game console called the "Game Boy" was all the rage. The console boasted games such as Super Mario Land, Tetris, Donkey Kong, Kirby's Dream Land, and a number of Pokémon releases.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on January 1, 1996.

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 January 1, 1996.

  • December 2, 1995: Actress Roxie Roker dies from breast cancer at the age of 66.
  • December 4, 1995: The Beatles release their single "Free as a Bird" - their first single in over 20 years.
  • December 6, 1995: Pop star Michael Jackson collapses during a rehearsal for his upcoming HBO special "One Night Only".
  • December 8, 1995: Father of the Bride Part II (1995) is released.
  • December 13, 1995: The film Sense and Sensibility (1995) is released.
  • December 15, 1995:
    • Jumanji (1995) is released in movie theaters.
    • The final episode of the British comedy series "Mr. Bean" is aired.
    • The crime film "Heat" is released.
  • December 16, 1995: The last episode of "The Ren & Stimpy Show" is aired.
  • December 20, 1995:
    • Buckingham Palace announces that the Queen has advised Prince Charles and Lady Diana to divorce.
    • NATO begins its peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
    • 159 people are killed when American Airlines Flight 965 crashes into a mountain in Buga, Colombia.
  • December 21, 1995:
    • Lionel Richie marries Diane Alexander.
    • Soccer: Jack Charlton retires as the manager of Ireland's national team.
  • December 24, 1995: Liberian footballer George Weah wins the 1995 Ballon d'Or.
  • December 25, 1995: American singer Dean Martin passes away from lung cancer at the age of 78.
  • December 29, 1995: The movie Twelve Monkeys (1995), starring Bruce Willis, is released.
  • December 31, 1995: The song "Spaceman" is released by Babylon Zoo.
  • This date: January 1, 1996
  • January 3, 1996: The Motorola StarTAC mobile phone is released.
  • January 7, 1996: The North American blizzard of 1996 hits states on the east coast.
  • January 8, 1996:
    • Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin makes his WWF debut.
    • 223 people are killed in Kinshasa, Zaire after a cargo aircraft crashes into a market place.
  • January 9, 1996: The first episode of "3rd Rock from the Sun" is aired on television.
  • January 13, 1996: 9-year-old Amber Rene Hagerman is kidnapped from a parking lot in Arlington, Texas.
  • January 18, 1996: Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from pop star Michael Jackson.
  • January 21, 1996: France carries out its last nuclear weapons test.
  • January 23, 1996: The first episode of "Moesha" is aired.
  • January 24, 1996: Polish Prime Minister Józef Oleksy resigns amid accusations that he spied for Russia.
  • January 25, 1996: Murderer Billy Bailey becomes the last person to be executed by hanging in the United States.
  • January 26, 1996: The first-person shooter game Duke Nukem 3D is released.
  • January 28, 1996:
    • Super Bowl XXX: The Dallas Cowboys defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers by 27-17 at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
    • Diana Ross performs at the Super Bowl XXX halftime show.
  • January 31, 1996: Soccer: Frank Lampard makes his debut for West Ham.

Mid-1990s fashion

Photographs of mid-1990s fashion and hairstyles.

Mid-1990s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in January 1996

Television shows that people were watching in January 1996:

TV shows from January 1996.

JAG
JAG
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Father Ted
Father Ted
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Friends
Friends
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
ER
ER
Party of Five
Party of Five
Ellen
Ellen
Babylon 5
Babylon 5
The Nanny
The Nanny

Cars in 1996

1996 saw the introduction of cars such as the Citroën Saxo, the Cadillac Catera, the Audi A3, the Honda Logo, the Volvo S70, and the Pontiac Montana.

Cars in 1996.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1996

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

Little Bear
Little Bear
Goosebumps
Goosebumps
Wishbone
Wishbone

Brotherly Love
Brotherly Love
Hang Time
Hang Time
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain
Timon & Pumbaa
Timon & Pumbaa
In the House
In the House
Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
Gargoyles
Gargoyles
Toys

Toys in 1996

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

12" talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure
12" talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure
Tyco Rebound RC Car
Tyco Rebound RC Car
Street Sharks Action Figures
Street Sharks Action Figures
The PlayStation (PS1)
The PlayStation (PS1)
The Sega Saturn
The Sega Saturn
Styrofoam plane gliders
Styrofoam plane gliders
Sky Dancers
Sky Dancers
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Dear Diary
Dear Diary
Casio Secret Sender 6000
Casio Secret Sender 6000
Jurassic Park: Young Tyrannosaurus Rex
Jurassic Park: Young Tyrannosaurus Rex
Matchbox Car Wash
Matchbox Car Wash
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in January 1996.

FIFA Soccer 96 1995
FIFA Soccer 96
Twisted Metal 1995
Twisted Metal
Phantasmagoria 1995
Phantasmagoria
Destruction Derby 1995
Destruction Derby
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 1995
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Rayman 1995
Rayman
Killer Instinct 1995
Killer Instinct
Tekken 2 1995
Tekken 2
The Adventures of Batman & Robin 1995
The Adventures of Batman & Robin
Command & Conquer 1995
Command & Conquer
Air Combat 1995
Air Combat
Judge Dredd 1995
Judge Dredd

Were you born on January 1, 1996?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1996.

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 January 1, 2002, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 1.

J. Edgar Hoover

J. Edgar Hoover

The first Director of the FBI Deceased
Born on January 1, 1895
He was not alive on this date.

Grandmaster Flash

Grandmaster Flash

Hip Hop DJ
Born on January 1, 1958
He turned 38 on this day in 1996.

Verne Troyer

Verne Troyer

Actor Deceased
Born on January 1, 1969
He turned 27 on this day in 1996.

Ice Spice

Ice Spice

Rapper
Born on January 1, 2000
She was born exactly 4 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on January 1:

USA

US President

Bill Clinton was the President of the United States on January 1, 1996.

UK

UK Prime Minister

John Major was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

John Bruton was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on January 1, 1996 was most likely conceived around April 10, 1995.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 1, 1996 is close to September 23, 1996.

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Stats for January 1, 1996

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 1, 1996:

  • 10,545 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,506 weeks have passed.
  • 911,088,000 seconds have passed since January 1, 1996.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,062,936,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 470,121,408,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 151,848,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 78,353,568 steps. That's roughly 34,824 miles.
  • 10,933,056 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1996?

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