january

January is the first month of the Gregorian calendar and the year’s starting point in most of the world. It has 31 days. The name derives from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and doors, reflecting the transition from the old year to the new one. In the Roman calendar, January (along with February) was added by King Numa Pompilius, making January the first month of the year.

In the Northern Hemisphere, January is typically winter; in the Southern Hemisphere it is summer. Weather varies by latitude, ranging from freezing conditions to mild days in some climates. The month lies between the holiday season and the early signs of spring in temperate zones.

Observances and holidays include New Year’s Day on 1 January; Epiphany on 6 January in many Christian traditions; Burns Night on 25 January in Scotland; and Australia Day and India’s Republic Day on 26 January. In the United States, the third Monday in January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Astronomically, the Sun is in Capricorn at the start of January and commonly moves into Aquarius around January 20–21. In many cultures, January also hosts regional festivals and fasting periods.