January Birthdays
This US President, who was the only president to serve more than two terms, was born on January 30th, 1882.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
As president from 1933 to 1945, Roosevelt lead the nation during the Great Depression and World War II. Many of his social programs still exist today, including the FDIC and Social Security.
This British rock band performed together for the last time on January 30th, 1969.
The Beatles
Held on the rooftop of their Apple Corp headquarters in London, the performance lasted 42 minutes until Metro Police arrived and order them to shut it down due to noise.
January has two birth flowers: the snowdrop and this flower, scientific name dianthus caryophyllus, known for its delicate fringed petals and broad range of vibrant colors.
Carnations
Symbolizing devotion, love, and fascination, the flowers are said to get their name from the Greek word for coronation because they were frequently featured in flower crowns.
The sarcophagus of this Egyptian pharaoh was opened on January 3rd, 1924.
King Tut (Tutankhamen)
Archeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb, located near Luxor, Egypt, in 1922. Unlike other burial sites in the region, Tutankhamen’s tomb had been eluded thieves and remained untouched. The discovery transformed the world’s perception of Ancient Egyptian culture and burial practices.
The “King of Rock n’ Roll” was born on January 8th, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Elvis Presley
Although his career spanned less than a quarter of a century, he is considered one of the most significant cultural influences of the 20th century. He starred in 33 films, set records with his television appearances and live performances, and remains the one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with more than a billion records sold worldwide.
This South American city name translates to "River of January".
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The city isn't named for a major river, but rather the large Guanabara Bay, which Portuguese explorers mistook for a river mouth.
This January birthstone got its name because it looks like the small, bright red seeds of the pomegranate.
Garnet
The name comes from the term “Garanatas”, meaning seedlike. While the most common color of the gemstone is red, the garnet actually comes in a wide range of colors, including yellow, green, blue, pink, and even black.
The first of this annual sporting event was played on January 15, 1967.
Super Bowl
The first AFL-NFL World Championship Game was held at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.
This country music star and philanthropist was born January 19th, 1946, in Tennessee.
Dolly Parton
After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Dolly launched her own musical career in 1967. She became one of the best selling recording artists of all time, selling more than 100 millions copies of her albums worldwide, and also found success as an actress in several films. In later years she became known for her philanthropy, supporting projects for public health and children’s education.
The full moon that occurs in January is referred to as this animal, known for howling at the moon.
Wolf moon
Occurring this year on January 3rd, this year's wolf moon was a super moon, meaning it occurred when the moon was at its closest point to Earth.
This warm sweet beverage is celebrated on January 31st.
Hot chocolate
National Hot Chocolate Day warms up people across the country by celebrating the timeless cold-weather drink.
Fittingly, this state, the coldest region in the United States, became the 49th state when it was admitted to the union on January 3, 1959.
Alaska
The Alaska territory was purchased from Russia in 1867, and discussion of statehood began in the 1920s. Efforts ramped up following World War II due to Alaska’s role as a strategic military base, and President Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act.
This Baptist minister and social activist, born January 15, 1929, lead the civil rights movement from the mid-1950s to his death by assassination in April 1968.
Martin Luther King Jr.
A national holiday honoring MLK is celebrated on the third Monday of January every year.
This popular device was announced by Steve Jobs at the Macworld trade show on January 9th, 2007.
Apple iPhone
It revolutionized mobile technology by combining a phone, iPod, and internet communicator into a single device with a multi-touch screen, eliminating the need for a physical keyboard.
Devoted Jeopardy! fans will know, January 4th is designated as an observance of this game.
Trivia
The original gameshow premiered in 1964 and ran until 1975. The current iteration of the show debuted in 1984 with Alex Trebek as the host. Ken Jennings, who holds the record for the longest winning streak at 74 games, took over as host following Trebek’s death in 2023.
On January 1st, 1892, this island opened in New York Harbor to serve as the nation’s major immigration station.
Ellis Island
From 1892 to to 1924 more than 12 million new arrivals were processed through Ellis Island. It closed officially to immigrants in 1954, and reopened as a museum in 1990.
Known as the “Queen of the Small Screen” for her roles in sitcoms such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Golden Girls, this American actress and pioneer of early television was born on January 17th, 1922.
Betty White
Also known as the “First Lady of Television”, Betty was the first woman to produce a national TV show, the first woman to star in a sitcom, the first woman to receive an Emmy nomination – and the first woman to ever appear on television, given her performance on an experimental broadcast in 1939. She passed away on December 31st, 2021, just shy of her 100th birthday.
On January 28th 1986, this space shuttle exploded shortly after take-off.
The Challenger
The shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after lift off, killing all 7 crewmembers aboard, including civilian teacher Christa McAuliffe.
In non-leap years, January always starts on the same weekday as what month?
October
In non-leap years, January and October always start on the same day of the week. However, in leap years, January starts on the same day of the week as April and July.
On January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed this proclamation and executive order, as the country approached the third year of the civil war.
The Emancipation Proclamation
The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Although it did not end slavery in the nation, the Emancipation Proclamation promised freedom and a new beginning for several million Americans and fundamentally transformed the character of the war.