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January facts for kids

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January (Jan.) is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, coming between December (of the previous year) and February (of the current year). It has 31 days.

January begins on the same day of the week as October in common years, and April and July in leap years. January ends on the same day of the week as February and October in common years, and July in leap years.

The Month

Sneeuw1
Snow in January in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is a winter month.

January is named for Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates.

January and February were put on the calendar after all the other months. This is because in the original Roman calendar, winter did not have months. Although March was originally the first month, January became the new first month because that was when people chose the new consuls (Roman leaders). The month has 31 days.

January is a winter month in the Northern Hemisphere and a summer month in the Southern Hemisphere. In each hemisphere, it is the seasonal equivalent of July in the other. Perihelion, the point in its orbit where the Earth is closest to the Sun, also occurs in this month, between January 2 and January 5. January begins on the same day of the week as October in common years and on the same day of the week as April and July in leap years. January ends on the same day of the week as February and October in common years and on the same day of the week as July in leap years. January is the only month of the year that always has a "twin" - a month that both begins and ends on the same day of the week as it does. In a common year, this is October, and in a leap year, July.

Every year, January both starts and finishes on the same day of the week as May of the previous year, as each other's first and last days are exactly 35 weeks (245 days) apart.

In common years immediately before other common years, January starts on the same day of the week as April and July of the following year, and in leap years and years immediately before that, September and December of the following year. In common years immediately before other common years, January finishes on the same day of the week as July of the following year, and in leap years and years immediately before that, April and December of the following year.

January's flower is the carnation with its birthstone being the garnet. The meaning of the garnet is constancy.

The first day of January is called New Year's Day. It is said that it became this date when Roman consuls took office on this day in 153 BC. Different calendars across Europe made this the start of the New Year at different times, as some observed it on March 25.

Reaching over from December, the Christmas season in Christianity also extends into this month. Eastern churches celebrate Christmas on January 6 or January 7, and Epiphany on January 18 or January 19 - In Western Christianity this occurs on January 6, with Christmas occurring on December 25.

January 1 is celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, that is a feast day of precept of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Events

Fixed Events

Tallinn cityview
Winter scene in Tallinn, Estonia on New Year's Day 2010.
Magi (1)
The Three Kings, or Magi, who are commemorated on January 6 in Western Christianity and January 19 in Eastern Christianity.
A haggis serving
Traditional Burns Night supper, traditionally eaten in Scotland and Scottish communities on January 25.
Australia Day
Australia Day celebration in Sydney on January 26, 2004.


Month-long or Moveable Events

Martin Luther King press conference 01269u edit
Martin Luther King, Jr. is commemorated in the United States on the Third Monday in January.


Selection of Historical Events

Euro coins and banknotes
The Euro currency came into use in twelve EU member states on January 1, 2002.
Jupiter and the Galilean Satellites
Photo Montage of the Galilean moons, discovered on January 7, 1610.
USS Boston landing force, 1893 (PP-36-3-002)
Landing force preparing to overthrow Hawaii's monarchy on January 17, 1893.
Uranus2
The planet Uranus, photographed by Voyager 2 on January 24, 1986.
Challenger explosion
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986.

Trivia

Janus-Vatican
Statue of the Roman God Janus.
  • January is named after the Roman God Janus, who was the Roman God of doors and gates.
  • January and July are the only pair of 31-day month's that are exactly six months apart. In the English language, they are also the only pair of months to both begin and end with the same letters (J and Y respectively)
  • The star signs for January are Capricorn (December 22 to January 20) and Aquarius (January 21 to February 19).
  • It is the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere, and the warmest in the Southern Hemisphere
  • It is one of three months in the English language to begin with "J", along with June and July, but unlike the latter two, does not have a "U" as a second letter.
Months of the Year

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Images for kids

  • Lusenberg-wise-men

    Adoration of the Magi, Epiphany, January 6

  • Snowdrop (Galanthus) flower

    Snowdrop (Galanthus) flower

  • Januar Leandro Bassano

    January, painting by Leandro Bassano

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January Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.