Jan Birthdays & Famous Faces
This civil rights leader was born January 15, 1929.
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.
MLK jr was an American Baptist minister and civil rights leader who led the fight against racial segregation through nonviolent protest and is best known for his “I Have a Dream” speech.
In Spain, people eat 12 of these at midnight for good luck.
What are grapes.
The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve—called Las Doce Uvas de la Suerte (“The Twelve Grapes of Luck”) originated in Spain in the late 19th or early 20th century.
This Founding Father and Revolutionary War general became the first President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 1789.
Who is George Washington.
Make a _______ for the coming year
Resolution
This legendary actress, star of “The Golden Girls,” was born January 17, 1922.
Who is Betty White.
This beloved actress and comedian starred as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls and became a television icon with a career spanning over seven decades.
Canada is famous for this winter activity, especially in January.
What is ice skating or ice hockey?
The modern game evolved from stick-and-ball games brought by European settlers, particularly the British and French, in the 18th and 19th centuries.
This famous document was signed on January 1, 1863, freeing slaves in the U.S.
What is the Emancipation Proclamation.
Issued by President Abraham Lincoln this historic document declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states and paved the way for the abolition of slavery in the United States.
Toast with sparkling ______
Champagne
This singer nicknamed “The King of Rock and Roll” was born in January.
Who is Elvis Presley.
This groundbreaking American singer and actor helped popularize rock and roll, became one of the most influential cultural icons of the 20th century.
In the U.S., this day honors a civil rights leader in January.
What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986.
On January 24, 1848, this was discovered in California, sparking a massive migration.
What is gold? (Gold Rush)
James W. Marshall’s 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill sparked the California Gold Rush, drawing “Forty-Niners” from around the world and rapidly growing California’s population, leading to statehood in 1850.
Out with the old _________
In with the new
This talk show host and media mogul was born January 29.
Who is Oprah Winfrey.
This influential talk show host, philanthropist, and media mogul built a global empire through television, film, and publishing, becoming one of the most powerful figures in modern media.
In Australia, January is during this season.
What is summer.
Australia experiences summer in January because it is located in the Southern Hemisphere. Seasons are opposite between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis:
January is named after this Roman god.
Who is Janus.
January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, gates, and transitions, often depicted with two faces one looking forward and one looking back.
This phrase means to make a fresh start at the beginning of the year.
What is turn over a new leaf.
This Founding Father and first U.S. Treasurer was born January 11.
Who is Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton helped shape the nation’s financial system as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and was a key author of The Federalist Papers.
In Brazil, people wear this color for good luck on New Year’s Eve.
What is white.
White symbolizes peace, purity, and renewal and is worn to honor Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea, asking for blessings and good luck for the new year.
In 1959, this country’s revolution succeeded on January 1, bringing Fidel Castro to power.
What is Cuba.
Castro’s revolutionary forces overthrew Fulgencio Batista’s government, establishing a socialist state in Cuba that aligned with the Soviet Union and reshaped the nation’s society, politics, and relations with the United States during the Cold War.
A frosty January morning is worth a month of ___.
What is gold.