January

Janus, God of the Doorway and Beginnings

January is the first month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. January is named after Janus, the god of the doorway; in Roman mythology. The original Roman calendar consisted of 10 months, totaling 304 days, winter being considered a monthless period. Around 713 BC, the successor of Romulus, King Numa Pompilius, is added the months of January and February, allowing the calendar to equal a standard lunar year. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere. The birthstone of January is the Garnet which represents constancy and its birth flower is the Galanthus. Let’s take a look at some of the celebrations in this month.

Galanthus

Garnet

New Year’s Day- January 1  

It is the first day of the New Year in the modern Gregorian calendar and is celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Some churches celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, based on the belief that Jesus was circumcised 8 days after his birth. The Independence of Haiti is also on this day.

World Braille Day – January 4

Louis Braille’s birthday is celebrated as the World Braille Day. He was the inventor of the method of writing words, music and song by means of dots to be used by the blind.

Feast of the Epiphany – January 6

Celebrates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus and is a Christian feast day for the revelation of God in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. The Ukrainian New Year's Eve also known as Svyat Vechir falls on this day.

Coming of Age Day - Second Monday 

It is a Japanese holiday held annually in order to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old) over the past year, and to help them realize that they have become adults.

Makara Sankranthi – January 14

An Indian harvest festival where the Sun transitions from Sagittarius to Capricorn on its celestial path. This day marks the Winter Solstice, the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. 

Thai Pongal – January 14 or 15

This is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils India, Sri Lanka, Malyasia, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia. Pongal is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God Surya, and marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana.

World Religion Day – Third Sunday

A day to establish interfaith understanding by emphasizing the common denominators underlying all religions.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Third Monday

This is a United States holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which protested racial discrimination in law.

Burns Night – January 25

This is a celebration of the life of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including "Auld Lang Syne," which is sung at New Year celebrations around the world. 

Republic Day of India and Australia Day – January 26

This day marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a republic on January 26, 1950. It is also the official national day of Australia which commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day

This day is significant to Sri Lankans as the day Lord Buddha first visited Sri Lanka which took place in the first year of his enlightenment.