January Fun Facts

– January is the first month of the year in the Georgian calendar, the calendar that most of the world uses, and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.

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– It is the coldest month in the northern half of the world, nature is quiet and the birds travel less. Also, the bears and woodchucks go into hibernation. However, in southern half of the world, January is the warmest month. During this time, unlike the northern half of the world, animals are active, and plants are growing.

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– The name January came from a Roman god Janus. According to the Roman legend, in 700 B.C., the ruler Numa Pompilius added January to the end of the 10-month Roman calendar. When it was added, Pompilius gave 30 days to January. However, Romans later made January the first month of the year. Moreover, in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar added a one more day to January and that’s why there are 31 in January today.

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Below are some fun facts about January:

1. The flower symbol of January is snowdrop & carnation.

2. January’s gem is garnet which represents constancy.

3. The zodiac signs for January is Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 – February 18).

4. The Common Sense by Thomas Paine was published on January 10, 1776.

5. On January 10, 1920 the League of Nations was established.

6. National Blood Donor Month

7. National Braille Literacy Month

8. National Hobby Month

9. National Soup Month

10. National Staying Healthy Month

11. On January 8, 1798, Amendment 11 to Constitution was proclaimed which modified the Supreme Court’s power.

12. On January 4, 1896, Utah became the 45th state.

13. On January 6, 1912. New Mexico became the 47th state.

14. January 8 – Elvis Presley’s birthday

15. January 11 – National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States

16. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States – Third Monday

17. On January 2, 1788, Georgia ratified the Constitution.

18. January 26 – Republic Day in India

19. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln.

20. On the first Monday of January, Handsel Monday is celebrated in Scotland and northern England.