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December 31, 2008 New Year's Eve

December 31, 2008, was a Wednesday. It was 15 years, 11 months, and 6 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

On This Day

Events

Notable events that occurred on December 31, 2008:

  • 15-year-old Irish girl Amy Fitzpatrick goes missing in Malaga, Spain.
Song charts

Popular songs

On December 31, 2008, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Single Ladies" by Beyonce
  • United Kingdom: "Hallelujah" by Alexandra Burke

The music charts on December 31, 2008

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce
  • Live Your Life - T.I. Featuring Rihanna
  • Just Dance - Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O'Donis
  • Circus - Britney Spears
  • Whatever You Like - T.I.
Play the top singles from 2008
A Spotify playlist of songs from 2008. Let us take you back to the peak days of Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys and Basshunter.
Marley and Me

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Marley and Me".

Facts

New Year's Eve 2008 occurred 5,819 days ago. Approximately 194 months have passed. It was the 366th day of 2008, in week 01. The decade was the 2000s. It was the last day of the year. People who were born on December 31, 2008, are now 15 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. 2008 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. 65 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Comments

Discussion about this date:

CulturedNailPro

I got my first kiss on this day at a New Year's Eve party my friend was hosting.
Posted on Jul 9, 2023 17:20


Submit a comment

Take me back to December 31, 2008

Let's go back to the 2000s.

The date is December 31, 2008, and it's a Wednesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Capricorn. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

It's New Year's Eve, and everyone is wondering what the year 2009 will bring. In America, the song "Single Ladies" by Beyonce is at the top of the singles charts, while "Hallelujah" by Alexandra Burke is the number-one song in the UK. George W. Bush Jnr. is the President of the United States, and the movie Marley and Me is at the top of the box office.

Gordon Brown is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "The Royle Family", "One Tree Hill", "Desperate Housewives", and "Breaking Bad". Practically every teenager and adult has a MySpace or Bebo account.

Meanwhile, in technology news, more and more people are beginning to use the Internet on their phones. This transition towards mobile Internet has been aided by the recent roll-out of faster 3G networks and the introduction of larger touchscreen phones. A growing social network called Facebook is beginning to steal users away from MySpace and Bebo. Video rental stores such as Blockbuster are struggling to compete with online streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.

It's 2008, so the music charts are filled with artists such as Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Rihanna and T.I. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Test, Natasha Richardson, Jade Goody, and Bea Arthur would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Grand Theft Auto IV", "Mafia Wars", "FIFA 09", and "Left 4 Dead".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "SpongeBob SquarePants", "One Tree Hill", "Peppa Pig", and "Postcards from Buster". Children are playing with toys such as iPod Touch, Gross Out Doodle Monster, Kid-Tough Digital Camera, and WALL-E toys.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 31, 2008, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 2008 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 8.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 31, 2008 falls under the Goose.
  • 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 31, 2008.

  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    The film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" had recently been released.
  • Gran Torino is playing in movie theaters.

    Gran Torino is playing in movie theaters

    During this time, the drama film Gran Torino, starring Clint Eastwood, was being shown in movie theaters.
  • Left 4 Dead is released.

    Left 4 Dead is released

    On November 17th, 2008, the zombie survival FPS game "Left 4 Dead" was released.
  • Fallout 3 is released.

    Fallout 3 is released

    The post-apocalyptic RPG game "Fallout 3" was released around this time.
  • Mafia Wars.

    Mafia Wars

    A multiplayer social network game called "Mafia Wars" was all the rage. The game was free and could be accessed by anyone with a Facebook or MySpace profile.
  • The birth of Rage Comics.

    The birth of Rage Comics

    Pre-made cartoon comics called "Rage Comics" were starting to become popular. By the end of 2008, the meme had spread from 4chan to websites such as Reddit.
  • The rise of Facebook.

    The rise of Facebook

    Facebook experienced massive growth and became the largest social network in the world.
  • The fall of MySpace.

    The fall of MySpace

    MySpace began to hemorrhage users in 2008. At the time, millions of users were leaving each month, with most of them migrating over to a newer and "cooler" social network called Facebook.
  • The Rickroll.

    The Rickroll

    In 2008, a "bait and switch" meme called Rickrolling became popular online. The prank involved tricking someone into watching the music video for Rick Astley's song "Never Gonna Give You Up".
  • Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Please Read the Letter"

    Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Please Read the Letter"

    "Please Read the Letter" by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss went on to win a Grammy for 2008's Record of the Year.
  • 2008 in music.

    2008 in music

    Popular music artists in 2008 included Sara Bareilles, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Usher, Jordin Sparks, Ray J, Leona Lewis, Lil Wayne, T.I., Pink, Beyoncé, Natasha Bedingfield, Coldplay, Katy Perry, M.I.A., Kevin Rudolf and Britney Spears.
  • World economic crisis.

    World economic crisis

    A world economic crisis took hold throughout 2008. This was a bleak year for many, as countries fell into recession, stock markets plunged, businesses were forced to close, and a lot of people lost their jobs. Sadly, many families were also forced to give up their homes.
  • The highest paid celebrities in 2008.

    The highest paid celebrities in 2008

    According to Forbes, the highest paid celebrities in 2008 were Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, David Beckham, Johnny Depp, Jay-Z, The Police, J.K. Rowling, Brad Pitt and Paula Deen.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 2008?

    Who were the best NBA players in 2008?

    In 2008, the best NBA players were Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Paul Pierce, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Manu Ginóbili.
  • Time Person of the Year 2008.

    Time Person of the Year 2008

    US President Barack Obama was named Time Person of the Year in 2008. In November 2008, he became the first African American to be elected President of the United States.
  • Megan Fox.

    Megan Fox

    American actress Megan Fox was listed as FHM's sexiest woman in 2008.
  • Best soccer players in the world.

    Best soccer players in the world

    In 2008, the best soccer players were Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas, Xavi, Andrey Arshavin, David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Kaká and Steven Gerrard.
  • 2008 in movies.

    2008 in movies

    Movies that hit the big screen in 2008 included the likes of The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Kung Fu Panda, Hancock, Mamma Mia!, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Iron Man, Quantum of Solace, WALL-E, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tropic Thunder and Cloverfield.
  • DVD sales are plummeting.

    DVD sales are plummeting

    DVD sales were beginning to plummet as people were switching to online streaming platforms. Between 2008 and 2014, sales in the USA fell by a whopping 66%.
  • Slumdog Millionaire.

    Slumdog Millionaire

    "Slumdog Millionaire" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2008.
  • Online streaming begins to threaten video rental stores.

    Online streaming begins to threaten video rental stores

    Online video streaming was becoming increasingly popular. New services such as Netflix and Hulu were gaining millions of users, and video rental stores such as Blockbuster were struggling to stay afloat. As sales and rentals declined, small video stores started closing. Meanwhile, the larger franchises attempted to downsize and branch out into selling other products, such as cellphones and merchandise.
  • HD TV becomes the norm.

    HD TV becomes the norm

    HD TV quickly became the norm during this time, as flat-screen televisions were starting to fall in price.
  • Mobile Internet begins to take off.

    Mobile Internet begins to take off

    Internet access on cellphones became common in the late 2000s. This transition was aided by the rollout of faster 3G Internet networks and the introduction of larger touchscreen phones. Although many phones had Internet features at the start of the decade, they were often awkward and costly to use.
  • Bringing digital cameras to nightclubs and bars.

    Bringing digital cameras to nightclubs and bars

    During the 2000s, people often brought digital cameras with them to clubs and bars. The following day, they would upload their photographs to social media websites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Bebo. Although most phones had cameras, their picture quality was bad, especially in darker settings such as nightclubs.
  • Bebo.

    Bebo

    By this stage, a new social network called Bebo had become a huge hit in countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand. Bebo was famous for its quizzes, auto-playing video box, whiteboard, "Bebo Skins," and "Bebo Luv" features.
  • Music stores are going out of business.

    Music stores are going out of business

    Many music stores were closing their doors for the last time. The ease of downloading and streaming music meant that the business model of selling CDs was quickly becoming nonviable.
  • Scene kids.

    Scene kids

    "Scene Kids" became a big subculture in the latter half of the decade. Their fashion consisted of skinny jeans, bright colors, and straight hair with long fringes.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 31, 2008.

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 31, 2008.

  • December 1, 2008: The National Bureau of Economic Research announces that the United States has been in recession since December of 2007.
  • December 2, 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo is awarded the 2008 Ballon d'Or.
  • December 4, 2008: Wrestler Steve Bradley is found dead.
  • December 5, 2008:
    • EastEnders actor Joe Swash wins the UK version of "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!".
    • O.J. Simpson is sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery.
    • The remains of Russian emperor Tsar Nicholas II are formally identified.
    • British singer Boy George is convicted of assaulting and falsely imprisoning a Norwegian model and male escort in April of 2007.
  • December 6, 2008:
    • Boxing: Tyson Fury makes his professional debut in a win over Béla Gyöngyösi.
    • Comedy sketch group "The Lonely Island" release their single "Jizz in My Pants".
    • Boxing: Manny Pacquiao defeats Oscar De La Hoya via an 8th round TKO.
  • December 9, 2008:
    • English singer Lily Allen releases her single "The Fear".
    • Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is arrested on suspicion of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat.
  • December 11, 2008:
    • The remains of Casey Anthony's 2-year-old daughter Caylee are discovered in a wooded area near her house.
    • Bernard Madoff is arrested and charged with fraud.
    • Sony releases the virtual 3D social gaming platform "PlayStation Home".
  • December 12, 2008:
    • Gran Torino (2008) is released.
    • It is announced that Russia has fallen into recession.
  • December 13, 2008: Alexandra Burke wins The X Factor.
  • December 14, 2008: An Iraqi journalist throws his shoes at US President George W. Bush.
  • December 17, 2008: The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke releases her cover of the song "Hallelujah".
  • December 19, 2008: The movie Seven Pounds (2008), starring Will Smith, is released in cinemas.
  • December 20, 2008: Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup are crowned as the winners of Strictly Come Dancing.
  • December 25, 2008: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) is released in movie theaters.
  • December 29, 2008: Internet culture: Reddit's /r/fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu (Rage Comics) subreddit is created.
  • This date: December 31, 2008
  • January 1, 2009: The song "Stereo Love" is released by DJ Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina.
  • January 3, 2009:
    • The Bitcoin network is created.
    • Israeli ground forces enter Gaza.
  • January 5, 2009: German billionaire Adolf Merckle commits suicide.
  • January 9, 2009:
    • The movie Slumdog Millionaire (2008) is released in cinemas.
    • Catherine Wayne (Boxxy) creates her YouTube channel.
  • January 10, 2009: Catherine Wayne (Boxxy) uploads her viral YouTube video "FOAR EVERYWUN FRUM BOXXY".
  • January 12, 2009: The first Bitcoin transaction takes place.
  • January 15, 2009: "The Miracle on the Hudson" takes place when US Airways Flight 1549 lands safely in the Hudson River after being struck by birds.
  • January 16, 2009: British singer Boy George is sentenced to 15 months in jail for false imprisonment.
  • January 20, 2009: Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.
  • January 23, 2009: The United Kingdom enters recession.
  • January 27, 2009: Rapper Flo Rida releases the song "Right Round".
  • January 29, 2009: Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is removed from office after being impeached on corruption charges.
  • January 30, 2009: Taken (2008) is released.

Late 2000s fashion

Photographs of late 2000s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 2000s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in December 2008

In December 2008, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from December 2008.

True Blood
True Blood
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners
Real Housewives of New York City
Real Housewives of New York City
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl
Mad Men
Mad Men
Skins
Skins
Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights
Dexter
Dexter
Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in December 2008

If you were a kid on December 31, 2008, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

The Suite Life on Deck
The Suite Life on Deck
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
Wizards of Waverly Place
Wizards of Waverly Place

iCarly
iCarly
WordGirl
WordGirl
Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb
Horrid Henry
Horrid Henry
Mr. Meaty
Mr. Meaty
Curious George
Curious George
The Hills
The Hills
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Toys

Toys in 2008

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

Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House
Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House
WALL-E toys
WALL-E toys
Digi Makeover
Digi Makeover
FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony
FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony
Kid-Tough Digital Camera
Kid-Tough Digital Camera
Fast Talkin' Lightning McQueen
Fast Talkin' Lightning McQueen
Air Hogs RC Storm Launcher
Air Hogs RC Storm Launcher
Pirates of the Caribbean ship
Pirates of the Caribbean ship
Lil Luvables Fluffy Factory
Lil Luvables Fluffy Factory
Gross Out Doodle Monster
Gross Out Doodle Monster
Floam
Floam
Moon Sand
Moon Sand
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 2008.

Left 4 Dead 2008
Left 4 Dead
Call of Duty: World at War 2008
Call of Duty: World at War
Mirror's Edge 2008
Mirror's Edge
Gears of War 2 2008
Gears of War 2
Fallout 3 2008
Fallout 3
Fable II 2008
Fable II
Dead Space 2008
Dead Space
Saints Row 2 2008
Saints Row 2
FIFA 09 2008
FIFA 09
Spore 2008
Spore
Battlefield: Bad Company 2008
Battlefield: Bad Company
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 2008
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Were you born on December 31, 2008?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 2008.

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 31, 2014, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins

Actor
Born on December 31, 1937
He turned 71 on this day in 2008.

Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson

Soccer manager
Born on December 31, 1941
He turned 67 on this day in 2008.

John Denver

John Denver

American singer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1943
He was not alive on this date.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer

Actor
Born on December 31, 1959
He turned 49 on this day in 2008.

John Allen Muhammad

John Allen Muhammad

Convicted murderer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1960
He turned 48 on this day in 2008.

Psy

Psy

South Korean singer
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 31 on this day in 2008.

Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr.

American businessman
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 31 on this day in 2008.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer

Actress
Born on December 31, 1998
She turned 10 on this day in 2008.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on December 31:

USA

US President

George W. Bush Jnr. was the President of the United States on December 31, 2008.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Gordon Brown was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Brian Cowen was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on December 31, 2008 was most likely conceived around April 9, 2008.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 31, 2008 is close to September 23, 2009.

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Stats for December 31, 2008

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 31, 2008:

  • 5,819 days have passed since this date.
  • 831 weeks have passed.
  • 502,761,600 seconds have passed since December 31, 2008.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 586,555,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 259,424,985,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 83,793,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 43,237,498 steps. That's roughly 19,217 miles.
  • 6,033,139 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 2008?

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