Janvier

Janvier is the French name for the first month of the Gregorian calendar. It has 31 days and marks the start of the calendar year in many cultures that use French-language conventions. The name etymology traces back to Latin Ianuarius, named after Janus, the Roman god associated with beginnings and thresholds. In Old French the term evolved into janvier and has remained the standard form in Modern French.

In everyday use, janvier is the term employed in French-speaking regions around the world. The common abbreviation is janv. in formal writing and on calendars. The month is usually represented in French typography and software as janvier or shortened to janv., depending on style guidelines.

Seasonally, janvier lies in winter for the Northern Hemisphere, where it is typically cold and often among the coldest months. In the Southern Hemisphere it corresponds to summer, reflecting the opposite seasonal cycle.

Notable observances in janvier include Jour de l’An, or New Year’s Day, on January 1. In many Francophone countries Epiphanie (Epiphany) is celebrated on January 6, commonly associated with the galette des rois, a pastry linked to the season’s traditions. Cultural activities and public life during janvier often reflect the transition from year-end holidays to the resumption of work and school.

Overall, janvier functionally mirrors January within the Francophone world: it names the same period, carries a shared etymology, and participates in similar seasonal and cultural rhythms as its English counterpart.