January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as the day of New Year. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of winter) and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer).
January symbols: The birthstone of January is the garnet which represents constancy. Its birth flower is the cottage pink Dianthus caryophyllus or galanthus. In Finnish, the month of tammikuu means the heart of the winter and because the name literally means Oak moon. The zodiac signs for the month of January are Capricorn (until January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 onwards). The traditional English birth month flower is the Carnation.
Historical Events for January, 1788
Day of Week 1st » First edition of 'The Times' of London, previously 'The Daily Universal Register', is published.
Day of Week 2nd » Georgia (U.S. state) or Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Day of Week 9th » Connecticut becomes the fifth state to be admitted to the United States.
Day of Week 19th » The second group of ships of the First Fleet arrive at Botany Bay.
Day of Week 20th » The third and main part of First Fleet arrives at Botany Bay. Arthur Phillip decides that Botany Bay is unsuitable for the location of a penal colony, and decides to move to Port Jackson.
Day of Week 26th » The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson or Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the continent. Commemorated as Australia Day
Famous Birthdays on January in 1788
8th » Archduke Rudolf of Austria (1788–1831) named Archduke Rudolf of Austria (d. 1831)
11th » William Thomas Brande, English chemist (d. 1866)
19th » Pavel Kiselyov, Russian general and politician (d. 1874)