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, 1839
Day of Week 6th » The Night of the Big Wind named most damaging storm in 300 years sweeps across Ireland, damaging or destroying more than 20% of the houses in Dublin.
Day of Week 9th » The French Academy of Sciences announces the Daguerreotype photography process.
Day of Week 19th » The British East India Company captures Aden.
Day of Week 20th » In the Battle of Yungay, Chile defeats an alliance between Peru and Bolivia.