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October 31, 1996 Halloween

October 31, 1996, was a Thursday. It was 28 years and 21 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Scorpio.

On This Day

Events

Notable events that occurred on October 31, 1996:

  • Irish-speaking channel TnaG is launched.
  • The game Command & Conquer: Red Alert is released for the PC and PlayStation.
Song charts

Popular songs

On October 31, 1996, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Macarena" by Los Del Rio
  • United Kingdom: "Say You'll Be There" by Spice Girls

The music charts on October 31, 1996

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) - Los Del Rio
  • It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion
  • No Diggity - Blackstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre)
  • I Love You Always Forever - Donna Lewis
  • Where Do You Go - No Mercy
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.
Sleepers

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Sleepers".

Facts

Halloween 1996 occurred 10,248 days ago. Approximately 342 months have passed. It was the 305th day of 1996, in week 44. The decade was the nineties. People who were born on October 31, 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. 114 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Comments

Discussion about this date:

Joshua Coleman

The Arthur episode "D.W. Rides Again"/"Arthur Makes the Team" premiered that day.
Posted on Jul 10, 2024 16:15


Submit a comment

Take me back to October 31, 1996

Let's go back to the nineties.

The date is October 31, 1996, and it's a Thursday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Scorpio. The summer is long gone. Temperatures have become much cooler, and the evenings are beginning to get darker.

There is a fresh, earthy scent in the air, and fallen leaves have carpeted driveways, lawns, pathways, and sidewalks. It's Halloween, so kids are trick-or-treating and adults are watching horror movies. In America, the song "Macarena" by Los Del Rio is at the top of the singles charts, while "Say You'll Be There" by Spice Girls is the number-one song in the UK.

Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Sleepers 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 "Last of the Summer Wine", "Roseanne", "Walker, Texas Ranger", and "JAG".

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. A new dance craze called the "Macarena" is all the rage at the moment.

A new video game console called the "Nintendo 64" has just been released. It is currently competing against the Sony PlayStation and the Sega Saturn. In baseball, the New York Yankees have just won the 1996 World Series after defeating the Atlanta Braves 4-2. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Yaki Kadafi, Tiny Tim, Carl Sagan, and JonBenét Ramsey would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Theme Park", "Air Combat", "FIFA Soccer 96", and "Fade to Black". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "The Secret World of Alex Mack", "Kenan & Kel", "Hey Arnold!", and "KaBlam!". Children are playing with toys such as Lego Pirates, the PlayStation (PS1), Street Sharks Action Figures, and Bop It.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 31, 1996, will have the star sign Scorpio.
  • Zodiac Element: Water.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1996 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 31, 1996 falls under the Snake.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of October will have the birthstones Tourmaline and Opal.
  • Birth flower (October): The Marigold and the Cosmos.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on October 31, 1996.

  • Un-Break My Heart.

    Un-Break My Heart

    At the end of October 1996, American singer Toni Braxton released her single "Un-Break My Heart". The song stayed on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for a total of eleven weeks.
  • The campaign for the 1996 United States presidential election is underway.

    The campaign for the 1996 United States presidential election is underway

    The 1996 United States presidential election was heating up at this point, as incumbent Democratic Party President Bill Clinton went head-to-head against Republican challenger Bob Dole. Throughout the campaign, Clinton managed to maintain a consistent lead in the polls.
  • The Nintendo 64 is released.

    The Nintendo 64 is released

    The Nintendo 64 games console was released in North America on September 29th, 1996. For many kids (and adults), this was the go-to gift for Christmas 1996.
  • Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

    Sabrina the Teenage Witch

    At the end of September 1996, a new sitcom called "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" premiered on ABC. The show followed the life of Sabrina Spellman - a high school student who learns that she is a witch with magical powers.
  • Macarena.

    Macarena

    A dance called the "Macarena" became a craze in the second half of 1996.
  • Kenan & Kel airs on Nickelodeon.

    Kenan & Kel airs on Nickelodeon

    In August 1996, a new sitcom called "Kenan & Kel" began to air on Nickelodeon. The show followed the "misadventures" of two friends who lived in Chicago, Illinois.
  • The Nokia 9000 Communicator.

    The Nokia 9000 Communicator

    The Nokia 9000 Communicator was released on April 15th, 1996. It was one of the first smartphones on the market. The phone had 8MB of memory and came equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard.
  • The Tamagotchi.

    The Tamagotchi

    Back in 1996, it seemed like everyone had a handheld digital pet called the Tamagotchi. The egg-shaped device contained a pixelated creature that the owner had to feed and play minigames with. It also left behind digital droppings that needed to be cleaned up on a regular basis.
  • 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.
  • 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 October 31, 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 October 31, 1996.

  • October 7, 1996:
    • The animated cartoon series "Arthur" is broadcast for the first time.
    • The first episode of "Hey Arnold!" is aired.
    • Boy band NSYNC release their first single.
    • The Fox News Channel is launched by News Corporation.
  • October 11, 1996:
    • The film Michael Collins (1996) is released.
    • Boxing: Floyd Mayweather wins in his professional debut against Roberto Apodaca.
  • October 14, 1996:
    • English girl group Spice Girls release their single "Say You'll Be There".
    • The Backstreet Boys release their single "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)".
  • October 18, 1996: The movie Sleepers (1996) is released.
  • October 21, 1996: The song "Un-Break My Heart" is released by Toni Braxton.
  • October 22, 1996: British businessman Matthew Harding and journalist John Bauldie are killed in a helicopter crash near Middlewich, Cheshire.
  • October 25, 1996: Tomb Raider is released on the Sega Saturn.
  • This date: October 31, 1996
  • November 1, 1996:
    • Stephon Marbury makes his NBA debut.
    • The video game "Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain" is released on the PlayStation.
  • November 3, 1996: Kobe Bryant makes his NBA debut at the age of 18.
  • November 4, 1996: Wrestler "The Rock" makes his WWF debut.
  • November 5, 1996:
    • 2Pac's album "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" is released two months after his murder in Las Vegas.
    • US President Bill Clinton is re-elected to the White House after defeating Republican candidate Bob Dole.
  • November 7, 1996: 144 people are killed after ADC Airlines Flight 086 crashes into a lagoon in Lagos State, Nigeria.
  • November 8, 1996: Football: Gianfranco Zola joins Chelsea from Parma.
  • November 9, 1996:
    • Boxing: Evander Holyfield defeats Mike Tyson at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
    • Brothers Adam, Trevor, and Mitchell O'Brien go missing from Torbay in Canada.
  • November 10, 1996: Rapper Yaki Kadafi is shot dead in Orange, New Jersey.
  • November 11, 1996: The song "Breathe" by Prodigy is released.
  • November 12, 1996:
    • Eminem releases his album Infinite. The album is a commercial failure.
    • Saudia Flight 763 and Air Kazakhstan Flight 1907 collide over India, killing 349 people.
  • November 14, 1996: Tomb Raider is released on the Sony PlayStation.
  • November 15, 1996: The movie Space Jam (1996) is released.
  • November 16, 1996: Wladimir Klitschko makes his professional boxing debut in a win over Fabian Meza.
  • November 18, 1996: A fire breaks out on a train inside the Channel Tunnel between France and England.
  • November 23, 1996: 125 people die when hijacked "Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961" crashes into the Indian Ocean after running out of fuel.
  • November 26, 1996: The song "I Believe I Can Fly" is released by R&B singer R. Kelly.
  • November 27, 1996: 101 Dalmatians (1996) is released.
  • November 30, 1996: American singer Tiny Tim dies from a heart attack at the age of 64.

Mid-1990s fashion

Photographs of mid-1990s fashion and hairstyles.

Mid-1990s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in October 1996

In October 1996, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from October 1996.

Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
7th Heaven
7th Heaven
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
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

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 October 1996

If you were a kid on October 31, 1996, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

KaBlam!
KaBlam!
Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold!
Arthur
Arthur

Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Bruno the Kid
Bruno the Kid
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Clueless
Clueless
Richie Rich
Richie Rich
Blue's Clues
Blue's Clues
Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
7th Heaven
7th Heaven
Toys

Toys in 1996

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

The Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game
Bop It
Bop It
Car City Carpet
Car City Carpet
The Nintendo 64
The Nintendo 64
Tickle Me Elmo
Tickle Me Elmo
The Tamagotchi
The Tamagotchi
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1996.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1996
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Tomb Raider 1996
Tomb Raider
Wipeout 2097 1996
Wipeout 2097
Super Mario 64 1996
Super Mario 64
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall 1996
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Crash Bandicoot 1996
Crash Bandicoot
Nights into Dreams 1996
Nights into Dreams
Die Hard Trilogy 1996
Die Hard Trilogy
Fade to Black 1996
Fade to Black
Quake 1996
Quake
Ridge Racer Revolution 1996
Ridge Racer Revolution
Resident Evil 1996
Resident Evil

Were you born on October 31, 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 October 31, 2002, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on October 31.

John Candy

John Candy

Actor Deceased
Born on October 31, 1950
He was not alive on this date.

Larry Mullen Jr

Larry Mullen Jr

U2
Born on October 31, 1961
He turned 35 on this day in 1996.

Rob Schneider

Rob Schneider

Actor
Born on October 31, 1963
He turned 33 on this day in 1996.

Ad-Rock

Ad-Rock

Beastie Boys
Born on October 31, 1966
He turned 30 on this day in 1996.

Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice

Rapper
Born on October 31, 1967
He turned 29 on this day in 1996.

Emiliano Sala

Emiliano Sala

Argentine soccer player Deceased
Born on October 31, 1990
He turned 6 on this day in 1996.

Letitia Wright

Letitia Wright

Actress
Born on October 31, 1993
She turned 3 on this day in 1996.

Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford

Soccer player
Born on October 31, 1997
He was born exactly one year after this date.

Willow Smith

Willow Smith

Singer
Born on October 31, 2000
She was born exactly 4 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on October 31:

USA

US President

Bill Clinton was the President of the United States on October 31, 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 October 31, 1996 was most likely conceived around February 8, 1996.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 31, 1996 is close to July 24, 1997.

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Stats for October 31, 1996

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 31, 1996:

  • 10,248 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,464 weeks have passed.
  • 885,427,200 seconds have passed since October 31, 1996.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,032,998,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 456,880,435,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 147,571,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 76,146,739 steps. That's roughly 33,843 miles.
  • 10,625,126 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1996?

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