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, 1985
Day of Week 1st » The first British mobile phone call is made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
Day of Week 10th » Sandinista National Liberation Front named Sandinista Daniel Ortega becomes president of Nicaragua and vows to continue the transformation to socialism and alliance with the Soviet Union and Cuba; American policy continues to support the Contras in their
Day of Week 13th » A passenger train plunges into a ravine in Ethiopia, killing 428 in the worst railroad disaster in Africa.
Day of Week 28th » Supergroup USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) records the hit single 'We Are the World', to help raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief.