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, 2012
Day of Week 1st » A Moldovan civilian is 2012 Moldova security zone incident or fatally wounded by a Russian peacekeeper in the Transnistrian security zone, leading to demonstrations against Russia.
Day of Week 7th » A hot air balloon 2012 Carterton hot air balloon crash e.g crashes near Carterton, New Zealand, killing all 11 people on board.
Day of Week 10th » A 2012 Khyber Agency bombing called bombing in Khyber Agency, Pakistan, kills at least 30 people and 78 others injured.
Day of Week 13th » The passenger cruise ship 'Costa Concordia' Costa Concordia disaster named sinks off the coast of Italy. There are 31 confirmed deaths with one still missing, Russel Rebello, amongst the 4232 passengers and crew.
Day of Week 14th » The Pirate Party of Greece is founded, on the model of the Swedish Pirate Party (Sweden) named Pirate Party.
Day of Week 19th » The Hong Kong-based file-sharing website Megaupload is shut down by the FBI.
Day of Week 23rd » A group of Muammar Gaddafi Gaddafi loyalists take control of part of the town of Bani Walid and fly the Flag of Libya green flag after a 2012 Bani Walid uprising battle with NTC forces left 5 dead and 20 injured.