January

Januaryis the first month of the year in theJulianandGregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The first day of the month is known asNew Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of theNorthern Hemisphere(where it is the second month of winter) and the warmest month of the year within most of theSouthern Hemisphere(where it is the second month of summer). In the Southern hemisphere, January is the seasonal equivalent ofJulyin the Northern hemisphere and vice versa.
Ancient Romanobservances during this month includeCervulaand Juvenalia, celebrated January 1, as well as one of threeAgonalia, celebrated January 9, andCarmentalia, celebrated January 11. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.
January (in Latin,Ianuarius) is named afterJanus, the god of beginnings and transitions inRoman mythology.
Traditionally, the originalRoman calendarconsisted of 10 months totaling 304 days, winter being considered a month-less period. Around 713 BC, the semi-mythical successor ofRomulus, KingNuma Pompilius, is supposed to have added the months of January andFebruary, so that the calendar covered a standard lunar year (354 days). AlthoughMarchwas originally the first month in the old Roman calendar, January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under theDecemvirsabout 450 BC (Roman writers differ). In contrast, each specific calendar year was identified by the names of the twoconsuls, who entered office on March 15th until 153 BC, at which point they started entering office on January 1st.
Various Christian feast dates were used for theNew YearinEuropeduring theMiddle Ages, including March 25 (Feast of the Annunciation) and December 25. However, medieval calendars were still displayed in the Roman fashion with twelve columns from January to December. Beginning in the 16th century, European countries began officially making January 1 the start of the New Year once again—sometimes calledCircumcision Stylebecause this was the date of theFeast of the Circumcision, being the seventh day after December 25.
Historical names for January include its original Roman designation, Ianuarius, theSaxontermWulf-monath(meaning "wolf month") andCharlemagne's designation Wintarmanoth ("winter / cold month"). InSlovene, it is traditionally calledprosinec; the name, associated withmilletbread and the act of asking for something, was first written in 1466 in theŠkofja Lokamanuscript.
According toTheodor Mommsen,1 January became the first day of the year in 600AUCof the Roman calendar (153 BC), due to disasters in theLusitanian War. A Lusitanian chief called Punicus invaded the Roman territory, defeated two Roman governors, and killed their troops. The Romans resolved to send a consul toHispania, and in order to accelerate the dispatch of aid, "they even made the new consuls enter into office two months and a half before the legal time" (March 15).
January'sbirthstoneis thegarnet, which represents constancy.Its birth flower is the cottage pinkDianthus caryophyllus,galanthusor traditionalcarnation.Thezodiacsigns areCapricorn(until January 19) andAquarius(January 20 onwards).
This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.
This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.
All Baha'i, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown on the date in question.
This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.
January 2 unless that day is a Sunday, in which caseJanuary 3
First Friday
Second Saturday
Second Monday
Friday before third Monday
Third Friday
Sunday closest to January 22
Third full week of January
Last full week of January
Third Monday
Wednesday of the third full week of January
Friday between January 19–25
Last Saturday
Last Sunday
January 30 or the nearest Sunday
Last Monday in January
Fourth Monday
Monday Closest to January 29