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, 1956
Day of Week 1st » Sudan achieves independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom.
1st » A new year event causes panic and stampedes at Yahiko Shrine, Yahiko, Niigata, Japan, killing at least 124 people.
Day of Week 3rd » A fire damages the top part of the Eiffel Tower.
Day of Week 8th » Operation Auca: Five U.S. missionary known as missionaries are killed by the Huaorani people or Huaorani of Ecuador shortly after making contact with them.
Day of Week 16th » President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt vows to reconquer Palestine.
Day of Week 28th » Elvis Presley makes his first US television appearance
4th » Nels Cline, American guitarist and songwriter (Wilco)
4th » Sarojini Sahoo, Indian feminist writer
4th » Bernard Sumner, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (Joy Division, New Order, Electronic (band) named Electronic, and Bad Lieutenant (band) or Bad Lieutenant)