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, 1961
Day of Week 3rd » A core explosion and meltdown at the SL-1, a government-run reactor near Idaho Falls, Idaho, kills three workers.
Day of Week 17th » Former Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) called Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba is murdered in circumstances suggesting the support and complicity of the governments of Belgium and the United States.
Day of Week 21st » 435 workers are buried alive when a mine in Coalbrook, Free State collapses.
Day of Week 23rd » The Portugal Portuguese luxury cruise ship 'Santa Maria' is Santa Maria hijacking hijacked by opponents of the Estado Novo (Portugal) Estado Novo regime with the intention of waging war until dictator António de Oliveira Salazar is overthrown.
Day of Week 24th » 1961 Goldsboro B-52 crash: A bomber carrying two H-bombs breaks up in mid-air over North Carolina. The uranium core of one weapon remains lost.
Day of Week 25th » In Washington, D.C. John F. Kennedy delivers the first live President of the United States e.g presidential television news conference.
Day of Week 26th » John F. Kennedy appoints Janet G. Travell to be his physician. This is the first time a woman holds the appointment of Physician to the President.
Day of Week 27th » Soviet Union called Soviet submarine 'Soviet submarine S-80 e.g S-80' sinks with all hands lost.
Day of Week 31st » Project Mercury: Mercury-Redstone 2 Ham the Chimp travels into space science named outer space.
15th » Yves Pelletier, Canadian actor and director
16th » Ronnie Lee Gardner, American criminal (d. 2010)
16th » Paul Raven (musician) Paul Raven, English bass player (Killing Joke, Prong (band) Prong, Godflesh, Zilch (band) Zilch, Society 1, and Ministry (band) Ministry) (d. 2007)