January

January is the first month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, with 31 days. It marks the start of the civil year in most countries and is associated with winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022 Last updated: May 21, 2026

Overview

January is the first month of the civil year and traditionally begins the annual cycle in the Julian and Gregorian systems. It contains 31 days and sits between the last month of the previous year and the second month of the current year. Many languages and cultures regard January as a time for new beginnings and annual planning.

Name and historical background

The month takes its name from Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doorways and beginnings. The assignment of January as the start of the year evolved with Roman calendar reforms and later with medieval and early modern calendar practice. The month appears in both the Julian calendar and the widely used Gregorian calendar, which corrected accumulated drift in the former system.

Calendar characteristics and weekday patterns

January always has 31 days (31 days) and directly follows December, while preceding February. In common years January begins on the same weekday as October, and in leap years it shares a starting weekday with April and July. It ends on the same weekday as February and October in non-leap years, and with July in leap years. These relationships are useful for planning recurring events and constructing perpetual calendars.

Seasonal placement and cultural observances

In the Northern Hemisphere January is a mid-winter month, often linked to cold weather, shorter daylight, and post-holiday recovery. In the Southern Hemisphere it is a mid-summer month with warm temperatures and different seasonal activities. Many public holidays and observances occur during January: globally recognized New Year's Day, religious feasts such as Epiphany in some traditions, and national commemorations in various countries. Some observances follow a fixed date while others are movable, for example those set to a particular weekday.

Uses, examples and significance

Organizations and individuals commonly use January as a fiscal or planning boundary: budgets, academic terms, and resolutions frequently begin at the start of the month. Astronomically, the month includes part of the Sun's transit through the constellations associated with Capricorn and Aquarius in tropical zodiac systems. Meteorologists often treat January as the coldest month in many northern regions and the hottest in parts of the south.

Notable facts and links

January is often used to mark the start of annual statistics and legal periods in many jurisdictions; see general references to the concept of a year.
The month's place in different calendar systems can affect historical date interpretation; compare practices in different month definitions and how they were applied in common years versus leap years.
Understanding weekday alignments with months such as April, July, and October helps when creating repeating schedules.
For cultural observances and calendars in practice, consult country-specific guides and official sources as implementations vary (February and other months often have related lists).

The form jennare > Jänner was already adopted in Middle High German times from the Late Latin variant Ienuarius, to which Spanish Enero or Italian Gennaio and French Janvier also go back, while Januar is a learned borrowing from the 18th century from classical Latin (mensis) Ianuarius. In the 19th century, the term Jänner was common even in Würzburg, which was situated far north within the Upper German area, on an equal footing with Januar, as numerous official announcements prove. In 1817, for example, the Intelligenzblatt für das Großherzogthum Würzburg (Intelligence Gazette for the Grand Duchy of Würzburg) stated that "next Monday, January 20, in the afternoon at 2 o'clock" grain could be auctioned at the Würzburg Rentamt. The word January subsequently replaced Jänner, first in the north of the German-speaking world, and eventually became established almost everywhere. Even in the south, in Bavaria and in Switzerland, Jänner is only rarely used in written language.

In other parts of the Upper German-speaking world, however, as in Austria and South Tyrol, Jänner is still the common name for the first month of the year, both in colloquial and written language and according to the Austrian dictionary. In contrast, the use of the term Feber for the second month is becoming rarer. Contrary to common usage in Austria, some Austrian editors substitute the word Jänner for January in deference to the entire German-speaking world and its book market. In Austria, the word January is hardly used.

The month of January in the Book of Hours Très Riches Heures

Holidays

New Year's Day on 1 January is a public holiday in all German-speaking countries. In Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt, the whole of Austria and some Swiss cantons, Three Kings' Day on 6 January is also recognised by law as a public holiday or day of rest. In other parts of Switzerland, Berchtold's Day on 2 January is a day off. For other holidays and commemorative days, see Category:List (holidays) and List of commemorative and action days.

Questions and Answers

Q: What is the first month of the year?

A: January (Jan.) is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

Q: How many days are there in January?

A: January has 31 days.

Q: On which day does January begin in common years?

A: In common years, January begins on the same day of the week as October.

Q: On which day does January begin in leap years?

A: In leap years, January begins on the same day of the week as April and July.

Q: On which day does January end in common years?

A: In common years, January ends on the same day of the week as February and October.

Q: On which day does January end in leap years? A: In leap years,January ends onthe same day ofthe week as July.

Author

Creation date: November 13, 2022

Last updated: May 21, 2026