Monday, 20th March 1978 in Paris
Welcome to your daily snapshot of Paris! It's International Day of Happiness and World Sparrow Day and World Storytelling Day. Explore 48 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in Paris. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in Paris brings rainy with temperatures between 8°C and 11°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Pisces. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Monday, 20th March in Paris, FR.
Monday, 20th March 1978 marks a date of historical significance when examined across multiple dimensions. The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland began its series of volcanic events in 2010, which would subsequently disrupt air travel across Europe and reshape aviation logistics. In a different context of disruption, the antiretroviral drug zidovudine received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1987, becoming the first treatment authorised for HIV and AIDS. These events, separated by decades, demonstrate how individual moments in history can alter the course of medicine and infrastructure on a continental scale.
Otto von Bismarck, the influential Prussian statesman, was dismissed as chancellor of the German Empire on this date in 1890. His departure marked a significant turning point in European political history, ending an era of careful diplomatic calculation that had defined German foreign policy since unification. The removal of such a dominant figure created uncertainties that would ripple through European relations in the following decades.
On this date in 1978, Paris experienced rainy weather conditions typical of early spring in France. The city, renowned as a centre of culture and politics, sits along the Seine and serves as the capital of France. Astrologically, the date fell under the zodiac sign of Pisces, whilst the moon phase was a waning crescent. These celestial and meteorological conditions provide context for those interested in understanding the atmospheric conditions of the historical moment being examined.
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Find out what's happening today in Paris.
What the Weather Had in Store for Paris on 20th March 1978
Tides reveal what stillness conceals.
Fortune of the Day
20th March in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on March 20 blend Neptune's spiritual depth with lunar emotional sensitivity and intuitive wisdom. They navigate between dreams and reality, driven by the number 5's thirst for change and freedom. Their boundless imagination makes them captivating companions with an almost magnetic presence.
Strengths & Weaknesses March 20 Pisces possess extraordinary creativity, empathy, and artistic gifts that inspire others profoundly. However, they struggle with scattered focus, emotional overwhelm, and difficulty staying grounded in the material world. Their yearning to escape can lead to avoidance if they don't actively anchor themselves.
Love Those born on this day love intensely and unconditionally, seeking emotional depth over surface connection. They tend to idealize partners and lose themselves in relationships, needing grounding influences. With stable, understanding partners, they find beautiful balance between dreams and mutual care.
Caree & Finance Their talents flourish in creative, artistic, or helping fields—music, design, therapy, spirituality, counseling. Financial discipline doesn't come naturally; practical guidance helps them manage money wisely. Structure prevents their visionary ideas from remaining perpetually unrealized.
Health Sensitive systems make these individuals vulnerable to psychological stress and physical symptoms tied to emotions. Meditation, creative expression, and consistent movement stabilize their emotional equilibrium effectively. Setting boundaries with others protects their permeable nature from depletion.
That night, the moon was in its waning crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Horse (Earth).
Fun Facts About 20th March
Name Days in Your Language: Dillan, Dillion, Dillon, Drew, Dru, Dylan, Dylon
Someone born on this day in 1978 would be 48 years old today — just 17,545 days into life, which is roughly 421,081 hours, 25,264,898 minutes, or 1,515,893,896 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 79. day of the year.
There are 286 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 12 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 20th March
- Ian Murray, Scottish footballer (1981)
- Carl Webb, Australian rugby league player (died 2023) (1981)
- Jamal Crawford, American basketball player (1980)
- Robertas Javtokas, Lithuanian basketball player (1980)
- Michelle Snow, American basketball player (1980)
- Shinnosuke Abe, Japanese baseball player (1979)
- Daniel Cormier, American mixed martial artist (1979)
- Keven Mealamu, New Zealand rugby player (1979)
- Kevin Betsy, English-Seychelles footballer and manager (1978)
- Brent Sherwin, Australian rugby league player (1978)
Lives Remembered on 20th March
- Gerry Bertier, American football player (born 1953) (1981)
- Jacques Brugnon, French tennis player (born 1895) (1978)
- Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham, English politician, 9th Governor-General of New Zealand (born 1909) (1977)
- Terukuni Manzō, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 38th Yokozuna (born 1919) (1977)
- Chet Huntley, American journalist (born 1911) (1974)
- Marilyn Maxwell, American actress (born 1921) (1972)
- Falih Rıfkı Atay, Turkish journalist and politician (born 1894) (1971)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 20th March
- Christian feast day: Alexandra
- Christian feast day: Blessed John of Parma
- Christian feast day: Clement of Ireland
- Christian feast day: Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
- Christian feast day: Herbert of Derwentwater
- Christian feast day: John of Nepomuk
- Christian feast day: Józef Bilczewski
- Christian feast day: María Josefa Sancho de Guerra
- Christian feast day: Martin of Braga
- Christian feast day: Michele Carcano
- Christian feast day: Wulfram
- Christian feast day: March 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Great American MeatOut (United States)
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Tunisia from France in 1956.
- International Day of Happiness (United Nations)
- International Francophonie Day (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie), and its related observances: UN French Language Day (United Nations)
- National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States)
- World Sparrow Day
What Happened on 20th March?
- La Plume noire, an anarchist bookstore in Lyon, is targeted by an attack of the far-right, provoking a shock in Lyon's far-left circles. (2021)
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is sworn in as acting president of Kazakhstan, following the resignation of long-time president Nursultan Nazarbayev. (2019)
- A solar eclipse, equinox, and a supermoon all occur on the same day. (2015)
- Syrian civil war: The Siege of Kobanî is broken by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), marking a turning point in the Rojava–Islamist conflict. (2015)
- Four suspected Taliban members attack the Kabul Serena Hotel, killing at least nine people. (2014)
- At least 52 people are killed and more than 250 injured in a wave of terror attacks across ten cities in Iraq. (2012)
- Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland begins eruptions that would last for three months, heavily disrupting air travel in Europe. (2010)
- Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Déby. (2006)
- Iraq War: The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland begin an invasion of Iraq. (2003)
- Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English. (2000)