The original ten-month Roman solar calendar began in March in order to mark the March equinox. However, that left 61 days in winter without a name so in 700 BC January, along with February, were added as the last months of the year by the Roman king Numa Popilius. In 450 BC January and February were moved to the beginning of the year and in 46 BC January, which initially 30 days, was given another day by Julius Caesar’s astronomers.
In spite of January 1 being considered the first day of the New Year, many religions continued to celebrate March 25 or December 25 as the beginning of their New Year. It wasn’t until 1582 when Pope Gregory introduced the Gregorian calendar that most of the religions accepted January 1 as the first day of the New Year. The nations France, Italy, and Spain quickly acknowledged the new calendar while other Protestant and Orthodox countries held off. Finally, in 1752 Britain and its colonies converted to January 1 as the start of a New Year. Eventually, other non-Christian countries switched although some retained their traditional or religious calendars. An example is China that celebrates its new year according to the lunar calendar which is based on the monthly cycles of the moon’s phases. Some, like Ethiopia, never accepted the solar calendar and celebrates its New Year in September.
Some January facts:
The name January comes from Janus the Roman two-faced god, who was the protector of gates, doorways, and transitions and represents new beginning and the door into the New Year.
The birthstone is garnet and the flowers are carnations and snowdrops.
The full moon in January is known by many different names: Wolf Moon after howling wolves; Moon After Yule; Ice Moon; and Old Moon.
In spite of the days getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere January is usually the coldest month and the reverse in true in the Southern Hemisphere where the days are getting shorter but January is the hottest month.
Some famous people born in January include Edgar Allan Poe, Dian Fossey, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King and his son Martin Luther King Junior, Virginia Wolfe, JRR Tolkien, and A.A. Milne.
During the regular years January starts on the same day of the week as October and ends on the same day of the week as February. In Leap years it starts on the same day as April and starts and ends on the same days as July.
Many people consider January to be the month where they embark on something new in their lives such as starting a hobby, learning a different language, planning a trip, or just relaxing more. While some manage to hold onto their changes through the year, alas most get drawn back into their old habits by February. Fortunately, January always comes around again in a few months.
