Figuring out dates in the past comes up more often than you think. Whether you’re digging into your family history, researching a historical event, or just satisfying your curiosity, you might need to know what happened a certain number of years back.
The phrase “50 years ago” is relative to today’s date, so… what year was 50 years ago?
This article will show you how to find that date, walk through some related date calculations, and tell you exactly what year we’re talking about when we say “what year was 50 years ago,” from today’s vantage point.
Calculating 50 years ago
To figure out what year was 50 years ago, you simply subtract 50 from the current year. Simple, right?
As of today, October 26, 2023, 50 years ago would be 1973.
While the year is easy to calculate, keep in mind that specific dates might be slightly off because of leap years. For example, February 29th only occurs every four years.
If you’re looking for a specific date exactly 50 years in the past, you can always use an online date calculator to get an accurate result.
1973: A Glimpse into the Past
If you’re reading this in 2023, then 50 years ago was 1973. What was going on back then? Well, the Vietnam War was still dragging on, and the Watergate scandal was beginning to unfold in Washington, D.C.
Culturally, 1973 was the year Pink Floyd released “The Dark Side of the Moon,” a perennial favorite that has remained on the Billboard charts for decades.
January 1, 1973, fell on a Monday. If you were celebrating on July 4th, that fell on a Wednesday, and there were still 179 days left in the year.
Of course, “what year was 50 years ago” depends on the specific date you’re thinking of. To find the exact date 50 years prior to a particular date, you can use a date calculator. For example, if you wanted to know what date occurred 50 years before August 6, 2023, a date calculator would tell you that it was August 6, 1973.
Tools and techniques for date calculation
Although determining what year was 50 years ago is easy, some date calculations are more complicated. Here are some tools and techniques you can use to figure out dates in the past or future.
Online date calculators
If you need to calculate dates in the past or future, online date calculators can come in handy. These tools let you add or subtract days, weeks, months, or years from a specific date.
Manual calculation methods
It’s possible to calculate dates manually, but it’s often impractical, especially if you’re dealing with longer time spans.
How are date calculations used?
Calculating dates is helpful for all kinds of scheduling and planning. It also helps you keep track of important dates and anniversaries.
Wrapping Up
Working out what year was 50 years ago is as simple as subtracting 50 from the current year. Knowing how to calculate dates in the past is a useful skill that helps you understand timelines and historical context.
If you need to calculate a date in the past, you can always use an online date calculator. You can use these tools to determine the date of a birth, anniversary, or other important event.