January


{{JanuaryCalendar{{CURRENTYEAR}}}} January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, and has 31 days. It is named for Janus, the Roman god of doors and gateways. The original Roman calendar consisted of 10 months (304 days). The Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. Circa 700 BCE Romulus' successor, King Numa Pompilius, added the months of January and February allowing the calendar to equal a standard lunar year (354 days). A Roman superstition against even numbers resulted in the addition of one day thus equalling 355 days. Although March was originally the first month, January usurped that position because that was when consuls were usually chosen. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. The first Monday in January is known as Handsel Monday in Scotland and northern England. In England, the agricultural year began with Plough Sunday on the Sunday after Epiphany. Historical names for January include its original Roman designation, Ianuarius, the Saxon term Wulf-monath (meaning wolf month) and Charlemagne's designation Wintarmanoth (winter / cold month). The Coming of age day in Japan is the second Monday of January, for those becoming 20 years old in the new calendar year. It is a national holiday. The day has existed since 1948, but fell on January 15 until 1999, when it was moved by the Japanese government in an attempt to lift the economy by making more holidays consecutive.

See also

af:Januarie an:Chinero ang:Se æfterra Géola ar:يناير ast:Xineru id:Januari be:Студзень bg:Януари ca:Gener cs:Leden cy:Ionawr da:Januar de:Januar et:Jaanuar el:Ιανουάριος es:Enero eo:Januaro fr:Janvier fy:Jannewaris ga:Eanáir gl:xaneiro ko:1월 hr:Siječanj is:Janúar it:Gennaio he:ינואר jv:Januari la:Ianuarius lt:Sausis lb:Januar hu:Január nl:Januari ja:1月 no:Januar oc:Genièr pl:Styczeń pt:Janeiro ro:Ianuarie ru:Январь sq:Janar simple:January sl:Januar fi:Tammikuu sv:Januari tl:Enero tt:Ğínwar tr:Ocak ur:جنوری uk:Січень vo:Yanul wa:Djanvî zh:1月 Category:Months

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