Birth chart on this day
Discover the planets positions on December 18th, 1961 as well as what the sky looked like at your place
see horoscope and birth chart for December 18, 1961What happened on Monday, December 18, 1961?
About December 18th, 1961, in brief:
- Historical events: On December 18, 1961, Indonesia launched an invasion of Netherlands New Guinea, also known as West Irian. This military action was part of Indonesia's efforts to assert control over the territory, leading to international tensions and conflict with the Netherlands. The invasion marked a significant moment in Indonesian history.
- Day of the week: December 18th, 1961 was a Monday
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius (in western zodiac), Ox (in Chinese zodiac)
- Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous
- #1 US song: The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens
- #1 UK song: Poetry In Motion by Johnny Tillotson
- Popular movie: West Side Story directed by Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
More about December 18th, 1961? See below for more news and curiosities on December 18th, 1961.
A meaningful gift for someone born on December 18, 1961
Turn 1961 into a personalized nostalgia gift
The personalized 1961 nostalgia year poster is a beautifully researched snapshot of the books, songs and movies that shaped 1961.
- Best-selling books from 1961
- Popular songs from 1961
- Popular movies from 1961
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Real poster exampleTable of contents
- December 18, 1961: What happened on that day?
- What day of the week was December 18, 1961?
- Who was born on December 18, 1961?
- December 18, 1961: What famous people died on that day?
- December 18, 1961: Number 1 song on that day
- December 18, 1961: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
- December 18, 1961: What was the moon phase on that day?
- How old is someone born on December 18, 1961?
- Back in 1961
December 18, 1961: What happened on that day?
Here's what happened on December 18, 1961:
- Indonesia invades Netherlands New Guinea On December 18, 1961, Indonesia launched an invasion of Netherlands New Guinea, also known as West Irian. This military action was part of Indonesia's efforts to assert control over the territory, leading to international tensions and conflict with the Netherlands. The invasion marked a significant moment in Indonesian history. source: britannica.com
- Sukarno's threat to West Irian On December 18, 1961, Indonesian President Sukarno issued a strong statement regarding West Irian, claiming it as part of Indonesia. This escalated tensions with the Netherlands, which still administered the territory. Sukarno's rhetoric was part of a broader campaign to assert Indonesian sovereignty over the region. source: britannica.com
- Wilma Rudolph named Female Athlete of the Year Wilma Rudolph was named the Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1961. This recognition highlighted her achievements, including winning three gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics, making her the first American woman to achieve such a feat. Rudolph's legacy continues to inspire athletes worldwide. source: apnews.com
- Wilt Chamberlain's 78-Point NBA Performance NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors sets a remarkable scoring record by scoring 78 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Lalchand Rajput: Indian Cricket Player Lalchand Rajput was an Indian Test cricket player who served as an opening batsman during the mid-1980s, representing the national team between 1985 and 1986.
- Ken Foreman: Rock Musician Ken Foreman was a rock musician associated with the bands Thrashing Doves and known for the album 'Reprobate's Hymn'.
December 18, 1961: What were the magazines covers and newspapers that day?
LIFE magazines from December 1961
Looking for other vintage memories?Look at our old newspapers and magazines page
What day of the week was December 18, 1961?
December 18, 1961 was a Monday and it was the 352nd day of the year 1961 in the Gregorian calendar.
December 18, 1961 can also be written as 12/18/1961 in the US and as 18/12/1961 in UK and Europe.
Who was born on December 18, 1961?
Famous people born on December 18, 1961:
![Sion Sono]()
Sion Sono![Angie Stone]()
Angie Stone![Brian Orser]()
Brian Orser![A. M. Homes]()
A. M. Homes![John Shanks]()
John Shanks![Jean-François De Sart]()
Jean-François De Sart![Daniele Lamuraglia]()
Daniele Lamuraglia![Tim Lewis]()
Tim Lewis![Branko Vukičević]()
Branko Vukičević
December 18, 1961: What famous people died on that day?
Famous people died on December 18, 1961:
![Leo Reisman]()
Leo ReismanAmerican violinist and bandleader (b. 1897).
![Olga Capri]()
Olga Capri
December 18, 1961: Number 1 song on that day
The number 1 song on December 18, 1961 is the best selling or most popular song as resulting from the music charts in the week December 18th and December 24th. It changes depending on Countries, Music Genres and methodology used to rank the most popular song (for ex., sales, streaming).
December 18, 1961: What was the number 1 song in the USA on that day?
The number 1 song in the USA on December 18, 1961 was The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens, according to the music chart for the week December 18th and December 24th.
- The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
- The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman
- Bobby Vee - Run To Him
- Chubby Checker - The Twist
- Leroy Van Dyke - Walk On By
December 18, 1961: What was the number 1 song in the UK on that day?
The number 1 song in the UK on December 18, 1961 was Poetry In Motion by Johnny Tillotson, according to the music chart for the week December 18th and December 24th.
- Johnny Tillotson - Poetry In Motion
- Frankie Vaughan - Tower Of Strength
- Cliff Richard - I Love You
- Danny Williams - Moon River
- The Drifters - Save The Last Dance For Me
December 18, 1961: What was the number 1 R&B song on that day?
The number 1 R&B song on December 18, 1961 was Please Mr. Postman by The Marvelettes, according to the music chart for the week December 18th and December 24th.
- The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman
- Bobby Bland - Turn On Your Love Light
- The Impressions - Gypsy Woman
- Sims Twins - Soothe Me
- The Crystals - There's No Other (Like My Baby)
December 18, 1961: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Zodiac and Astrological sign for December 18th is Sagittarius.
Discover the zodiac sign and horoscope for any day in the past.
Sagittarius is the 9th sign in the Western Zodiac. People born between November 22nd and December 21st belong to the Sagittarius sign: discover Sagittarius personality and who should a Sagittarius marry.
Babies born in December are either Sagittarius or Capricorn. People born before December 21st are Sagittarius, while people born from December 22nd have the sign of Capricorn.
Discover the personality of December born.
Unlock the Mysteries of December 18, 1961! Claim Your Free Numerology Report!
December 18, 1961: What is the Chinese Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Chinese Zodiac sign for December 18, 1961 is Ox and the associated element is Metal.
Discover the Ox personality and how the Metal Element might affect a person's traits and compatibility with other signs according to the Chinese zodiac.
Try our calculator to discover your Chinese zodiac sign based on your date of birthDecember 18, 1961: What was the moon phase on that day?
Moon phase
The moon phase on December 18, 1961 was Waxing gibbous.
The moon phase refers to the appearance of the Moon in the night sky on December 18, 1961 and is determined by the portion of the Moon's illuminated surface that is visible from Earth.
An observer located in New York City on December 18, 1961 at 10pm, would see the moon, being 92% full, rising at 02:30 pm and setting at 04:31 am.
The previous full moon was on Nov 22, 1961 while the next full moon would come on Dec 22, 1961.
Unveil Your Inner Self: Discover Your Moon Sign Now!
Your place in the Universe on December 18, 1961
We are proud to bring you the most beautiful and accurate map of the stars on your day
Get your Star Map Now!How old is someone born on December 18, 1961?
Someone born on December 18, 1961 is:
64 years 7 months old,
or 775 months and 19 days old,
or 3372 weeks and 3 days old,
or 23607 days old,
Enjoy a trip down memory lane: discover what the world looked like when you turned 18 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old
Use our How old am I? Calculator to know the age of a person today or use the Age Calculator to determine the interval between two dates.
How many days until your next birthday if you were born on December 18, 1961?
There are 134 days until your next birthday, which will occur on Friday December 18th 2026.
Try out our Countdown calculator to find out are many days are left until your special moments.
What generation do you belong to if you were born on December 18, 1961?
You belong to the Baby Boomer Generation if you were born on December 18, 1961.
Discover what generation people belong to with our generation calculator.
Back in 1961
Why 1961 makes a meaningful nostalgia gift
For someone born on December 18, 1961, a 1961 nostalgia poster turns a familiar date into a visual account of the world they arrived in.
The history attached to December 18, 1961 includes Indonesia invades Netherlands New Guinea, giving the gift a real story rather than a generic year label.
The soundtrack around December 18, 1961 included “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens, a memory that helps place the recipient back in their era.
Cinema from the world of December 18, 1961 included West Side Story, adding another recognizable cultural touchpoint to the year.
December 18, 1961 is also shared with notable birthdays such as Sion Sono, making the date feel connected to a wider story.
Together, those details make December 18, 1961 more than an answer to a history question: they provide the personal starting point for a gift rooted in the recipient's own date.
Because the poster is delivered digitally and personalized around 1961, it can become a birthday surprise, milestone keepsake, or printable reminder of the era connected to December 18, 1961.
The 1961 poster brings together verified books, songs, and movies, creating a personal digital keepsake for birthdays and milestone celebrations tied to December 18, 1961.
Explore the fuller story in our 1961 history guide, or see the 1961 poster gift page. You can also compare ideas in our birth-year poster guide.
Make 1961 part of their celebration
A personalized digital nostalgia gift, ready to order for someone connected to December 18, 1961.
