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December 17, 1996

December 17, 1996, was a Tuesday. It was 27 years, 11 months, and 22 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 17, 1996:

  • The Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement takes 72 hostages in the Japanese Embassy in Lima, Peru.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 17, 1996:

  • United States: "Un-break My Heart" by Toni Braxton
  • United Kingdom: "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Dunblane

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 17, 1996

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
  • No Diggity - BLACKstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre)
  • Nobody - Keith Sweat Featuring Athena Cage
  • Don't Let Go (Love) - En Vogue
  • Mouth - Merril Bainbridge
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.
Jerry Maguire

Top movie

The movie "Jerry Maguire" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 10,218 days ago. Approximately 341 months have passed. It was the 352nd day of 1996, in week 51. The decade was the nineties. The end of 1996 was just 14 days away. People who were born on December 17, 1996, are now 27 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. 1996 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. We have gone through approximately 114 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to December 17, 1996

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is December 17, 1996, and it's a Tuesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The Christmas season of 1996 is in full swing. People are putting up their decorations and festive songs are playing on the radio.

In America, the song "Un-break My Heart" by Toni Braxton is at the top of the singles charts, while "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Dunblane is the number-one song in the UK. Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Jerry Maguire 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 "Married... with Children", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "Beavis and Butt-Head", and "ER". 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. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Carl Sagan, JonBenét Ramsey, The Notorious B.I.G, and Jeff Buckley would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Theme Park", "Mortal Kombat 3", "Phantasmagoria", and "Duke Nukem 3D". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Living Single", "Weird Science", "Hang Time", and "Brotherly Love". Children are playing with toys such as G.I. Joe (figures), Tiger 2-XL Talking Robot , Street Sharks Action Figures, and Tyco Rebound RC Car.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 17, 1996, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • 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: December 17, 1996 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, 1996.

  • Christmas 1996.

    Christmas 1996

    The Christmas period of 1996 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.
  • Mars Attacks!

    Mars Attacks!

    The comic sci-fi movie "Mars Attacks!" was playing in movie theaters at this time.
  • 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.
  • Macarena.

    Macarena

    A dance called the "Macarena" became a craze in the second half of 1996.
  • 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 December 17, 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 December 17, 1996.

  • 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.
  • December 5, 1996: Jordan Belfort's brokerage house "Stratton Oakmont" goes out of business after it is expelled by the NASD.
  • December 13, 1996: The movie Mars Attacks! (1996) is released.
  • December 14, 1996: 66 people are left injured after a freighter ship slams into the Riverwalk shopping mall in New Orleans.
  • December 16, 1996: It is reported that Boeing will be merging with aerospace manufacturing corporation McDonnell Douglas in a $13.3 billion deal.
  • This date: December 17, 1996
  • December 20, 1996:
    • The movie Scream (1996) is released.
    • American astronomer Carl Sagan dies from cancer at the age of 62.
  • December 22, 1996: Soccer: Goalkeeper Peter Shilton plays his 1000th game.
  • December 23, 1996: French movie producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier is murdered in Ireland.
  • December 24, 1996: German footballer Matthias Sammer wins the 1996 Ballon d'Or.
  • December 25, 1996: The murder of six year old JonBenet Ramsey shocks America.
  • December 26, 1996:
    • David Spencer (13) and Patrick Warren (11) go missing in Solihull, England.
    • Islamic hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969.
  • December 27, 1996: Patrick Warren (11) and David Spencer (13) go missing in Solihull, England.
  • December 30, 1996: Actor Jack Nance passes away from a subdural hematoma.
  • January 8, 1997: Football: Kevin Keegan announces that he is stepping down as manager of Newcastle United.
  • January 16, 1997: Bill Cosby's son, Ennis Cosby, is shot and killed during an attempted robbery.

Mid-1990s fashion

Photographs of mid-1990s fashion and hairstyles.

Mid-1990s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 17, 1996

People in December 1996 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from December 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 December 1996

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

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

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

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
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1996.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! 1996
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
FIFA 97 1996
FIFA 97
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain 1996
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
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

Were you born on December 17, 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 December 17, 2002, 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 60 on this day in 1996.

Bill Pullman

Bill Pullman

Actor
Born on December 17, 1953
He turned 43 on this day in 1996.

Chuck Liddell

Chuck Liddell

MMA fighter
Born on December 17, 1969
He turned 27 on this day in 1996.

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao

Boxer
Born on December 17, 1978
He turned 18 on this day in 1996.

Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning

Whistleblower
Born on December 17, 1987
She turned 9 on this day in 1996.

USA

US President

Bill Clinton was the President of the United States on December 17, 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 December 17, 1996 was most likely conceived around March 26, 1996.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 17, 1996 is close to September 9, 1997.

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Stats for December 17, 1996

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 17, 1996:

  • 10,218 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,459 weeks have passed.
  • 882,835,200 seconds have passed since December 17, 1996.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,029,974,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 455,542,963,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 147,139,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 75,923,827 steps. That's roughly 33,744 miles.
  • 10,594,022 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1996?

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