January tidbits
Curtesy photo
January: a month for recovering from the holiday bustle, possibly making resolutions and looking forward to the three-day weekend honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Here are some other interesting tidbits about this frosty month:
Did you know that 45 B.C. was the first year in history that New Year’s Day was celebrated on January 1? January’s name comes from Janus, an ancient Roman god of beginnings and endings, doorways and archways.
January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month and National Hot Tea Month. So, while physically cleaning the computer or finally clearing out those old emails, maybe enjoy a cup or two of your favorite hot tea. Just not too close to that keyboard!
Every four years, January 20 is inauguration day. If that date falls on a Sunday, inauguration day is January 21 for that year.
On January 9, 1979, for the beginning of the International Year of the Child, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) staged “The Music for UNICEF Concert: A Gift of Song,” a benefit fundraiser with some of the biggest names in pop music at the time.
In 1995, on January 13, the first all-women team to compete in the 144-year history of the America’s Cup international sailing yacht competition won the first race of the defender trials.
January 14 is the day in 1784 that the Continental Congress ratified the treaty that ended the War for Independence. That same date, in 1973, the Miami Dolphins achieved something no other NFL team has: a perfect season. The Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII, capping a 17-0 season.
The first Super Bowl took place January 15, 1967. Known then as the AFL-NFL World Championship, the first-ever, the game was played at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. The NFL’s Green Bay Packers defeated the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.
In 1957, on January 23, the Wham-O toy company rolled out its first batch of aerodynamic plastic discs—better known as Frisbees.
The first Winter Olympics opened January 25, 1924, in Chamonix in the French Alps. Known then as the “International Winter Sports Week,” there were only about 260 competitors.
January also has some whimsical holidays and events. January 10 is National Houseplant Appreciation Day, a perfect day to give houseplants a little extra love and perhaps even bring home more. National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day is January 22; a day for paying closer attention to your cat and trying to understand their motives, movements and attitude, and even ponder what type of questions they might ask if you could communicate. January 29 is National Puzzle Day, so grab your favorite puzzles—a crossword, jigsaw, trivia, word search, brain teaser or something else—and exercise your brain.
For more January fun facts, visit almanac.com and search “January.”
By Susan Helton
