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, 1981
Day of Week 1st » Greece is admitted into the European Community.
1st » Palau achieves self-government though it is not independent from the United States.
Day of Week 2nd » One of the largest investigations by a British police force ends when serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper", is arrested in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Day of Week 8th » A local farmer reports a Trans-en-Provence Case named UFO sighting in Trans-en-Provence called Trans-en-Provence, France, claimed to be "perhaps the most completely and carefully documented sighting of all time".
Day of Week 10th » Salvadoran Civil War: The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front FMLN launches its first major offensive, gaining control of most of Morazán Department Morazán and Chalatenango Department Chalatenango departments
Day of Week 15th » John Paul II receives a delegation from Solidarity (Polish trade union) at the Vatican City e.g Vatican led by Lech Walesa.
Day of Week 17th » President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos lifts Martial law in the Philippines called martial law eight years and five months after declaring it.
Day of Week 19th » Iran Hostage Crisis: United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity.
Day of Week 20th » Twenty minutes after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated, at age 69 the oldest man ever to be inaugurated as U.S. President, Iran releases 52 Iran hostage crisis e.g American hostages.
Day of Week 21st » Production of the iconic DeLorean DMC-12 sports car begins in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
Day of Week 25th » Jiang Qing, the widow of Mao Zedong, is sentenced to death.
Day of Week 28th » Ronald Reagan lifts remaining domestic petroleum price and allocation controls in the United States helping to end the 1979 energy crisis and begin the 1980s oil glut.