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December 16, 2001

December 16, 2001, was a Sunday. It was 23 years and 6 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 16, 2001:

  • Newspapers report that US forces in Afghanistan are closing in on Osama bin Laden at the Tora Bora mountain range and that they've heard his voice over short-range radio.
Birthdays

Born on December 16, 2001

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 16, 2001:

  • United States: "U Got It Bad" by Usher
  • United Kingdom: "Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedingfield

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 16, 2001

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • U Got It Bad - Usher
  • Family Affair - Mary J. Blige
  • How You Remind Me - Nickelback
  • Hero - Enrique Iglesias
  • Turn Off The Light - Nelly Furtado
Play the top songs from 2001
A Spotify playlist of songs from 2001. Take a trip back to the peak days of Shaggy, Faith Hill, Eminem, Kylie Minogue and Shakira.
Vanilla Sky

Top movie

The movie "Vanilla Sky" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date was 8,407 days ago. Approximately 280 months have passed. It was the 350th day of 2001, in week 50. The decade was the 2000s. The end of 2001 was just 15 days away. People born on this day are currently 23 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. We have gone through approximately 93 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to December 16, 2001

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Sunday, December 16, 2001. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the days ahead.

The Christmas season of 2001 is in full swing. People are putting up their decorations and festive songs are playing on the radio. In America, the song "U Got It Bad" by Usher is at the top of the singles charts, while "Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedingfield is the number-one song in the UK. George W. Bush Jnr. is the President of the United States, and the movie Vanilla Sky is at the top of the box office.

Tony Blair is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. A relatively new form of communication called "text messaging" is becoming more widespread. Although the technology has been around since the mid-1990s, it was only recently that cell providers allowed users to send SMS messages to people on different networks. In technology news, more and more music companies are beginning to release MP3 players. The new MP3 format means that music listeners are able to listen to multiple albums on the go.

Meanwhile, the Nokia 3310 is one of the most popular cellphones on the market at the moment. Stores across the world are currently selling a wide range of custom covers for the phone. It's 2001, so the music charts are being dominated by the likes of Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, OutKast, Crazy Town, Destiny's Child, Usher, Alicia Keys, Blu Cantrell and Jennifer Lopez. The US invasion of Afghanistan is occurring.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Layne Staley, Left Eye, Big Dick Dudley, and The British Bulldog would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "7th Heaven", "Jackass", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", and "Boston Public". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Pokémon Stadium", "WWF No Mercy", "Hitman: Codename 47", and "Devil May Cry".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "The Simpsons", "Bear in the Big Blue House", "Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids", and "The Brothers García". Popular toys at the moment include Gogo's Crazy Bones, Rocket the Wonder Dog, Diva Starz, and Lincoln Logs.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 16, 2001, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 2001 was the year of the Snake (Yin Earth).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 4.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 16, 2001 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 16, 2001.

  • Christmas 2001.

    Christmas 2001

    The Christmas period of 2001 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.
  • Winona Ryder is arrested for shoplifting.

    Winona Ryder is arrested for shoplifting

    On December 12th, 2001, actress Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting at a Saks Fifth Avenue department store in California.
  • The PlayStation 2 & the Xbox.

    The PlayStation 2 & the Xbox

    The PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox were competing with one another.
  • The iPod.

    The iPod

    Apple's iPod music player was released on October 23rd, 2001.
  • Grand Theft Auto III.

    Grand Theft Auto III

    Grand Theft Auto III was released on October 22nd, 2001. The story followed a character named Claude in Liberty City.
  • Nokia games such as Bounce.

    Nokia games such as Bounce

    During this period, you might have been playing simple mobile games such as Nokia's "Bounce", which was first released in July 2001.
  • U2 - "Walk On"

    U2 - "Walk On"

    "Walk On" by U2 went on to win a Grammy for 2001's Record of the Year.
  • 2001 in music.

    2001 in music

    Popular music artists in 2001 included Lenny Kravitz, Jennifer Lopez, Shaggy, Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child, Lifehouse, Nelly, Eve, Blu Cantrell, Usher, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Ginuwine and Nickelback.
  • The highest paid celebrities in 2001.

    The highest paid celebrities in 2001

    According to Forbes, the highest paid celebrities in 2001 were Tom Cruise, Tiger Woods, The Beatles, Britney Spears, Bruce Willis, Michael Jordan, The Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Oprah Winfrey and Mel Gibson.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 2001?

    Who were the best NBA players in 2001?

    In 2001, the best NBA players were Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, Dikembe Mutombo, Tracy McGrady, Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki, David Robinson, Gary Payton and Ray Allen.
  • Time Person of the Year 2001.

    Time Person of the Year 2001

    New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was listed as the Time Person of the Year for 2001.
  • MSN Messenger and AIM.

    MSN Messenger and AIM

    People were using MSN Messenger and AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) to chat with their friends online.
  • 2001 in movies.

    2001 in movies

    Movies released in 2001 included Shrek, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Monsters, Inc., Ocean's Eleven, Pearl Harbor, The Mummy Returns, Jurassic Park III, Planet of the Apes, Hannibal, Moulin Rouge!, Spy Kids, The Fast and the Furious and The Others.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 2001, the best soccer players were Michael Owen, Raúl, Oliver Kahn, David Beckham, Francesco Totti, Luís Figo, Rivaldo, Andriy Shevchenko, Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane.
  • A Beautiful Mind.

    A Beautiful Mind

    "A Beautiful Mind" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2001.
  • Nokia 3310.

    Nokia 3310

    The Nokia 3310 was one of the most popular cellphones on the market. The phone included a fun game called Snake. You could also buy custom covers for it.
  • VCRs are being phased out.

    VCRs are being phased out

    Although many people were still using VCRs to play movies, more and more households were beginning to replace them with DVD players.
  • Jennifer Lopez.

    Jennifer Lopez

    American singer Jennifer Loper (aka J. Lo) topped the FHM sexiest woman list in both 2000 and 2001.
  • DVDs are replacing VCR tapes.

    DVDs are replacing VCR tapes

    DVDs were starting to replace VCR tapes. As a result, you no longer had to rewind your tapes before you brought them back to the rental store.
  • Wallpaper is quickly dying off.

    Wallpaper is quickly dying off

    Wallpaper was quickly disappearing from people's homes during the early 2000s. By this stage, minimalist interior design trends were in vogue, and many people had already made the switch to using paint.
  • People are buying MP3 players.

    People are buying MP3 players

    More and more MP3 players started to arrive on the market during the early 2000s. This included the Samsung YEPP, the Creative NOMAD Jukebox, and the Apple iPod. Although most of us did not know it at the time, the MP3 marked the beginning of the end for the CD format and, in turn, the music stores that sold them.
  • Text messaging is exploding in popularity.

    Text messaging is exploding in popularity

    Text messaging exploded between 1999 and 2001. This was due to the fact that more and more people were buying cellphones. Furthermore, providers were starting to allow users to send SMS messages to contacts on other networks.
  • The Game Boy Color.

    The Game Boy Color

    The Game Boy Color was the go-to handheld device for gamers. Notable games included Wario Land 3, Donkey Kong Country, and the various Pokémon releases.
  • Floppy disks are being phased out.

    Floppy disks are being phased out

    The floppy disk was being phased out by this point, as the emergence of the CD-RW and faster Internet speeds had made it somewhat redundant.
  • Landline phones are still popular... for now.

    Landline phones are still popular... for now

    Although most houses still had landline telephones, they were starting to slowly die out due to the increasing availability of cellphones.
  • CD folders and disc towers.

    CD folders and disc towers

    People were using CD folders and disc towers to store their music collections and PlayStation games. CD folders were particularly useful if you wanted to switch between different albums while driving.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 16, 2001.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 16, 2001.

  • November 16, 2001: The movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) is released in cinemas.
  • November 18, 2001:
    • Wrestling: The WWF defeats The Alliance at Survivor Series after Kurt Angle switches allegiances.
    • The Nintendo GameCube is released in North America.
  • November 19, 2001: Basement Jaxx release the song "Where's Your Head At".
  • November 24, 2001: "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh is captured in Afghanistan.
  • November 28, 2001: American energy company Enron has its credit rating downgraded to "junk status".
  • November 29, 2001: Beatles member George Harrison passes away.
  • November 30, 2001:
    • Wrestling: Chyna leaves the WWF.
    • Serial killer Gary Ridgway (The Green River Killer) is arrested after one of the longest running homicide investigations in US history.
  • December 2, 2001: American energy company Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
  • December 3, 2001: English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor releases her single "Murder on the Dancefloor".
  • December 6, 2001: New Zealand yachtsman Peter Blake is shot and killed by pirates.
  • December 7, 2001: The film "Ocean's Eleven" is released in movie theaters.
  • December 8, 2001: The bodies of 8 refugees are found in a container in the ferry port of Rosslare, Wexford, Ireland.
  • December 10, 2001:
    • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) is released.
    • German group Scooter release their single "The Logical Song".
  • December 12, 2001: Actress Winona Ryder is arrested on shoplifting charges in Beverly Hills, California.
  • December 14, 2001:
    • Not Another Teen Movie (2001) is released.
    • Vanilla Sky (2001) is released.
  • This date: December 16, 2001
  • December 17, 2001:
    • Afghanistan Invasion: The Battle of Tora Bora comes to an end after US forces capture the last cave complex.
    • US intelligence officials admit that they have lost track of Osama bin Laden.
  • December 18, 2001:
    • Usher releases his single "U Got It Bad".
    • English striker Michael Owen is awarded the 2001 Ballon d'Or.
    • Rapper Nas releases his album "Stillmatic".
  • December 19, 2001: Argentinazo: Riots erupt in Buenos Aires and Rosario in Argentina due to an economic and political crisis.
  • December 21, 2001:
    • A Beautiful Mind (2001), starring Russell Crowe, is released in movie theaters.
    • The animated film "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" is released in movie theaters.
  • December 22, 2001: "The Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid attempts to detonate a shoe bomb on a flight between Paris and Miami.
  • December 26, 2001: Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards are engaged.
  • January 1, 2002:
    • The Euro currency is introduced in Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Finland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
    • The last cull of the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak takes place.
  • January 4, 2002: NBA star Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy file for divorce.
  • January 5, 2002: Westlife singer Brian McFadden and Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona are married.
  • January 7, 2002:
    • Drummer Jon Lee commits suicide at his home in Miami, Florida.
    • Jennifer Lopez releases her single "Ain't It Funny", featuring Ja Rule.
  • January 9, 2002: New Mexico crime: Diazien Hossencofft pleads guilty to the murder of his wife Girly Chew Hossencofft.
  • January 11, 2002: The Guantanamo Bay detention camp takes in its first detainees.
  • January 13, 2002: NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer is fired by the Washington Redskins after one season in charge.
  • January 14, 2002: The United Kingdom declares that it is now free of foot-and-mouth disease.

Early 2000s fashion

Photographs of early 2000s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 2000s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 16, 2001

TV audiences were watching the following shows on December 16, 2001:

TV shows from December 2001.

24
24
Smallville
Smallville
Scrubs
Scrubs
Alias
Alias
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Home Movies
Home Movies
The Office (UK version).
The Office (UK version).
Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Becoming
Becoming
Boston Public
Boston Public
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls

Cars in 2001

2001 saw the introduction of cars such as the Volkswagen Polo Mk4, the Buick Sail, the Honda Fit, the BMW 7 Series (E65), the Toyota Camry (XV30), and the Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Cars in 2001.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on December 16, 2001

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 2001:

The Proud Family
The Proud Family
The Cramp Twins
The Cramp Twins
Invader Zim
Invader Zim

The Fairly OddParents
The Fairly OddParents
My Wife and Kids
My Wife and Kids
Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire
Grounded for Life
Grounded for Life
As Told by Ginger
As Told by Ginger
Static Shock
Static Shock
Jackie Chan Adventures
Jackie Chan Adventures
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Toys

Popular toys and games in 2001

Toys and games that were popular in 2001:

The Nintendo GameCube
The Nintendo GameCube
The Xbox
The Xbox
What's Her Face (doll)
What's Her Face (doll)
Pixter drawing tablet
Pixter drawing tablet
My First LeapPad
My First LeapPad
Barbie and the Nutcracker doll
Barbie and the Nutcracker doll
e-Kara Karaoke Microphone
e-Kara Karaoke Microphone
Harry Potter Candy Maker Set
Harry Potter Candy Maker Set
The Game Boy Advance
The Game Boy Advance
Bratz dolls
Bratz dolls
Bob the Builder Electronic Talking Scoop
Bob the Builder Electronic Talking Scoop
Lincoln Logs
Lincoln Logs
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 2001.

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy 2001
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Pro Evolution Soccer 2001
Pro Evolution Soccer
Return to Castle Wolfenstein 2001
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It 2001
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It
Halo: Combat Evolved 2001
Halo: Combat Evolved
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 2001
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
SSX Tricky 2001
SSX Tricky
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies 2001
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
FIFA 2002 2001
FIFA 2002
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 2001
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Grand Theft Auto III 2001
Grand Theft Auto III
Silent Hill 2 2001
Silent Hill 2

Were you born on December 16, 2001?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 2001.

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 16, 2007, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 16.

Xander Berkeley

Xander Berkeley

Actor
Born on December 16, 1955
He turned 46 on this day in 2001.

Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks

Stand-up comedian Deceased
Born on December 16, 1961
He was not alive on this date.

Michael McCary

Michael McCary

Boyz II Men
Born on December 16, 1971
He turned 30 on this day in 2001.

Brodie Lee

Brodie Lee

Wrestler Deceased
Born on December 16, 1979
He turned 22 on this day in 2001.

Mats Hummels

Mats Hummels

German soccer player
Born on December 16, 1988
He turned 13 on this day in 2001.

USA

US President

George W. Bush Jnr. was the President of the United States on December 16, 2001.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Bertie Ahern was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on December 16, 2001 was most likely conceived around March 25, 2001.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 16, 2001 is close to September 8, 2002.

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Stats for December 16, 2001

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 16, 2001:

  • 8,407 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,201 weeks have passed.
  • 726,364,800 seconds have passed since December 16, 2001.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 847,425,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 374,804,236,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 121,060,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 62,467,373 steps. That's roughly 27,763 miles.
  • 8,716,378 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 2001?

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