January 2012
January February March April May June
July August September October November December
January Is...
  Cervical Health Awareness Month
Crime Stoppers Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Eye Care Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Mentoring Month
National Poverty in America Awareness Month
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
Thyroid Awareness Month
  Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Week Five  
January 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 January

1

SUN 		Happy New Year! First Quarter Moon
This Week Is...
National Folic Acid Awareness Week
(First full week of January)
SKY & Telescope

2

MON
Literature National Science Fiction Day Literature
(Observed annually in honor of the birth date of science fiction author Isaac Asimov: 01/02/1920)
Haiti: Fête des Aïeux (Ancestors' Day) Haiti Arts of Haiti Embassy of Haiti, Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of State
(Commemorates the declareation of the Republic of Haiti by General Jean- Jacques Dessalines: 01/01/1804)

3

TUE 		Alaska: Admission Day Alaska 50 States
(Commemoration of the addition of Alaska as the 49th state: 01/03/1959)

4

WED
Foods and Nutrition National Spaghetti Day Foods and Nutrition
(Observed annually on this date)

Angola: Baixa de Cassange's Day (Martyrs of the Colonial Repression Day) Angola Portugal War Death U.S. Department of State
(Commemorates the cotton workers martyred in attack by Portuguese military: 01/04/1961)
Burma: Independence Day Burma/Myanmar Great Britain Library of Congress
(Commemorates independence from Great Britain: 01/04/1948)
Utah: Admission Day Utah State of Utah
(Commemorates admission of Utah as the 45th State: 01/04/1896)

5

THU 		Christians: Twelfth Night Christian Resource Institute
(Observance of the twelfth day of Christmas)

6

FRI
Foods & Nutrition National Bean Day Foods & Nutrition
(Observed annually on this date)

Christians: Epiphany/Feast of the Three Kings Christian Resource Institute
(Celebration of visit of three kings to Bethlehem manger)

Iraq: Army Day AME Country Guide
(Celebration of creation of the Iraqi army in 01/06/1921)
Laos: Pathet Lao Day Laos Global Translations
(Observed annually on this date since 1950 to celebrate Laos' ruling Pathet Lao Party)
Uruguay: Three Kings Day/Children's Day Uruguay Child Advocacy U.S. Department of State ProQuest
(Annual religious/secular holiday on which children receive gifts as the three kings gave gifts to the baby Jesus)

New Mexico: Admission Day New Mexico 50 States
(Commemorates admission of New Mexico as the 45th State: 01/06/1912)

7

SAT 		Orthodox Christians: Christmas Belarus Georgia Kyrgyzstan Macedonia Moldova Russia Ukraine Orthodox Christmas Calendars
(Observed in accordance with the Julian Calendar which trails the Gregorian Calendar by 13 days)
Cambodia: Victory Day Flag Icon of Cambodia
(Commemorating the fall of the Khmer Rouge 01/07/1979)
Japan: Nanakusagayu Day Japan Foods & Nutrition Shinshu University
(New Year's tradition to eat nanakusagayu (rice & 7 herbs) on 1/7)

8

SUN
Northern Mariana Islands: Commonwealth Day Northern Mariana Islands Countries and The Cultures
(National Day observance of the enactment of the commonwealth constitution: 1978)
Thailand: Children's Day Thailand Child Advocacy BBC
(Celebrated annually on this date with parades and parties)
Louisiana: Jackson Day New Orleans Andrew Jackson Battle of New Orleans
(Commemoration of Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans: 1/8/1815)

This Week Is...

SKY & Telescope

9

MON
Electricity National Static Electricity Day Electricity
(Observed annually on this date)

Japan: Coming of Age Day/Seijin No Hi Coming of Age Day
(Rite of passage for all 20 year olds: second Monday of January)

Panamá: Martyrs' Day Panamá U.S. Department of State
(Remembrance of 20 students who died proclaiming Panamá's control of the canal zone: 1/9/1964)

Full Moon

10

TUE 		Benin: Traditional Religions (Voodoo) Day Benin Religion U.S. Department of State
(Constitutional holiday observed annually on this date)

11

WED
International Thank You Day

Morocco: Independence Manifesto Day Morocco Manifesto of Indpendence U.S. Department of State
(Commemoration of the publication of a declaration of Moroccan independence: 01/11/1944)

Nepal: Prithvi Jayanti/National Unity Day Nepal AsiaTravel.com
(Commemorates the birth of King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, the father of modern Nepal)

Puerto Rico: de Hostos' Birthday Puerto Rico US-PuertoRicans.org
(Commemorates the birth date of patriot and philosopher, Eugenio María de Hostos: 01/11/1839)

United States: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Human Rights/Civil Rights
(Observed on this date annually as per a 06/22/2007 resolution of the U.S. Congress to elevate awareness of modern human slavery and trafficking)

12

THU 		Tanzania: Zanzibar Revolution Day Tanzania U.S. Department of State
(Commemorates African majority revolt against the Arab sultan, and formation of a Afro-Shirazi party government: 01/12/1964)
Turkmenistan: Memorial Day Turkmenistan Russia U.S. Department of State
(Observed annually in memory of the thousands of civilians massacred by Russian Imperial Forces: 01/12/1881)

13

FRI 		Finland: Norway: Sweden: Tjugondag Knut/St. Knut's Day/Twentieth Day Finland Norway Sweden Christmas The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids Julenissen Norge
(Official end of the Yuletide season: 20 days after Christmas)

Togo: Liberation Day Togo U.S. Department of State Reuters
(Observed annually to commemorate the 01/13/1967 military coup that brought Gnassingbe Eyadema, to power)

United States: Stephen Foster Memorial Day Stephen Foster American Composers Folk Music Government Printing Office
(Remembrance of Foster on the anniversary of his death: 1/13/1864)

Virginia: Lee-Jackson Day Virginia Stonewall Jackson Robert E. Lee American Civil War Answers.com
(Celebration of the birthdays of Robert E. Lee & Stonewall Jackson: The Friday before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

14

SAT
India/Hinduism: Bhogi Pongal (north)/Makar Sankranti(south) Hinduism Makar Sankranti/Pongal
(Day 1 of 3-day festival celebrating the harvest and the Julian new year)
Julian Calendar: New Year's Day Julian Calendar
(The Julian Calendar trails the Gregorian Calendar by 13 days)

15

SUN
Hat National Hat Day Hat
(Observed annually on this date)

Religion World Religion Day Religion
(Observed annually on the third Sunday of January)

India: Bhogi Pongal (north)/Makar Sankranti(south) Makar Sankranti/Pongal
(Day 2 of 3-day festival celebrating the harvest and the Julian new year)
Jordan: Arbor Day Jordan Arbor Day Arbor Day Foundation
(Observed annually on this date)

Malawi: John Chilembwe Day John Chilembwe U.S. Department of State
(Commemoration of the martyr who first championed Malawi nationalism)

Malta: Arbor Day Malta Arbor Day Arbor Day Foundation
(Observed annually on this date)

Philippines (Aklan Province): Ati-atihan The Philippines Tayabas Interactive
(Mardi Gras-like festival which peaks the 3rd Sunday of January in Aklan province)

Venezuela: Día del Maestro (National Teacher's Day) Venezuela National Teacher's Day Education Teacher Appreciation
(Commemorates the founding of the Society of Teachers of Primary Instruction: 01/15/1945)

United States: National Sanctity of Life Day Abortion Presidential Proclamation
(Observed annually the third Sunday of January)

United States: Sight Saving Sabbath: Prevent Blindness Blindness
(Observed annually on the 3rd & 4th Sundays of January)

This Week Is...
Healthy Weight Week
(Third full week of January)
International Printing Week
(Week that includes Benjamin Franklin's Birthday: January 17th)
SKY & Telescope

16

MON 		Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Last Quarter Moon
Religion National Religious Freedom Day Religion
(Commemorates the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom 01/16/1786)

India: Bhogi Pongal (north)/Makar Sankranti(south) Makar Sankranti/Pongal
(Day 3 of 3-day festival celebrating the harvest and the Julian new year)
Thailand: Teachers' Day Thailand Education ThailandLife
(Observed annually on this date as per a 1956 resolution of the National Cabinet)

17

TUE
Rid the World of Fad Diets & Gimmicks Day: Women Foods and Nutrition Women's Healthy Weight Day Web Site
(Observed the Tuesday of Healthy Weight Week)

18

WED
A.A. Milne Winnie the Pooh Day A.A. Milne
(Commemoration of the birth date of A.A. Milne)

Ethiopia: Timket (Epiphany) Ethiopia Religion Epiphany/Twelfth Night Ethiopian River Valley of Safaris
(Jan 18-20 three-day celebration of the Epiphany in accordance with the Julian calendar)

19

THU
Popcorn The Popcorn Board Popcorn
(Observed annually on this date)

Ethiopia: Timket (Epiphany) Ethiopia Religion Ethiopian River Valley of Safaris
(Jan 18-20 three-day celebration of the Epiphany in accordance with the Julian calendar)
Arkansas & Texas: Confederate Heroes Day Arkansas Confederate Heroes Day Robert E. Lee
(Observed on the birth date of Robert E. Lee)

Women's Healthy Weight Day: Women Foods and Nutrition Women's Healthy Weight Day Web Site
(Observed the Thursday of Healthy Weight Week)

20

FRI
Cheese Day Cheese Day Cheese Day
(Observed annually on this date)

Brazil: Saint Sebastian Day Brazil Catholicism U.S. Department of State
(The patron saint of soldiers, archers and athletes)

Bulgaria: Baba Den (Grandmother's Day) Baba Den Child Advocacy
(Holiday of pagan origins observed annually on this date in honor of all those who help care for small children)

Ethiopia: Timket (Epiphany) Ethiopia Religion Ethiopian River Valley of Safaris
(Jan 18-20 three-day celebration of the Epiphany in accordance with the Julian calendar)

Guinea-Bissau: National Heroes Day The Republic of Guinea-Bissau Source
(Commemoration of the assassination of freedom fighter Amílcar Cabral: 1/20/1973)

Laos: Army Day Laos CRW Flags
(Commemorates the creation of the Laos Army: 01/20/1949)
Mali: Armed Forces Day Mali U.S. Department of State
(Observed annually on this date)
United States: Inauguration Day United States The American Presidency 20th Amendment
(Observed per the 20th Amendment since 1937)

Florida: Arbor Day Florida Arbor Day National Arbor Day Foundation
(Observed annually on the third Friday in January)

21

SAT 		Barbados: Errol Barrow Day Barbados Barbados.org
(Celebration of birth of the Father of an independent Barbados: 01/21/1920)
Dominican Republic: Our Lady of Altagracia (Our Lady of Charity) Day Dominican Republic France Catholicism
(Commemoration of the Sabana Battle: 01/21/1691)

22

SUN 		Catholicism: Feast Day of Saint Vincent of Saragossa Spanish Political and Social Leaders Catholic Saints Catholic Online Chambers Book of Days
(Observed on this date to commemorate Vincent of Saragossa, who was martyred in Spain on this date in 304)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Day: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Catholicism Catholic Encyclopedia
(Celebration of feast day of Saint Vincent of Saragossa)

Sight Saving Sabbath: Prevent Blindness Blindness
(Observed annually on the 3rd & 4th Sundays of January)

This Week Is...
National Nurse Anesthetists Week (Last full week of January)
SKY & Telescope

23

MON

Writing National Handwriting Day Writing
(Observed annually on this date)


Pitcairn Island: Bounty Day Pitcairn Island Naval History
(Celebration of the burning of the HMS Bounty by Pitcairn ancestors: 01/23/1790)

New Moon

24

TUE 		Togo: Liberation Day Togo U.S. Department of State BBC
(Commemorates ouster of President Nicholas Grunitzky in a 1967 military coup led by Lt. Colonel Etienne Eyadema)

United States: National Speak Up and Succeed Day Leadership Merriam-Webster
(Observed annually on this date)

25

WED 		Angola: Luanda's City Day Angola Portugal U.S. Department of State FedEx
(Observed annually on this date to commemorate the founding of the city of Luanda by the Portuguese in 1575)

Aruba: Official Holiday in Memory of G. F. Betico Croes Aruba Visit Aruba
(Commemorates the birth date of Aruba statesman, Gilberto Francois Betico Croes: 01/25/1759)

Scotland: Burns' Night Robert Burns Poetry
(Commemorates the birth date of Scotland's national poet, born 01/25/1759)
Russian Federation: St. Tatiana Day/Students' Day Russia Ukraine Education Moscow Hotels
(Commemorates the founding of Moscow University on the feast day of Saint Tatiana: 01/25/1775)

26

THU 		Australia: Australia Day Australia Day U.S. Department of State Government of Australia
(Commemoration of the landing of the first European settlers in Australia: 01/26/1788)
Dominican Republic: Day of Juan Duarte Domican Republic DominicanToday
(Commemorates the birth date of Juan Pablo Duarte (father of Dominican independence): 01/26/1813)
India: Republic Day Republic Day U.S. Department of State U.S. House of Representatives
(Commemorates the proclamation of India as a sovereign republic: 01/26/1950)
Uganda: NRM (National Resistance Movement) Day Uganda U.S. Department of State
(Observed annually on this date to Commemorate the 1986 liberation of Uganda by the National Resistance Army led by Yoweri Museveni who became President of Uganda)

27

FRI
Yom Hashoah: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
(Observed annually on this date to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, 1/27/1945)
Monaco: Saint Devote Ste. Devote Catholicism Principality of Monaco
(Celebration of the feast day of the patron saint of Monaco)

United States: National Kazoo Day
(Celebrated the last Thursday in January)

United States: National Toilet Day
(Commemorates the life of Thomas Crapper, inventor of the flush toilet, who died 01/27/1910)

28

SAT 		Buddhism: Gyoki/Honen Memorial Day Buddhism Japan Jodo Shu
(Commemoration of the life of Honen, the Father of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism: date varies on Buddhist calendar, but generally either January 25th or 28th)

Hinduism: Saraswati Puja Hinduism Source
(Worship of the Hindu Goddess of Knowledge & Learning in parts of India on the 5th day of the month Magh, first day of spring)

Rwanda: Democracy Day Rwanda Canadian Immigration Service
(Celebration of the anniversary of the formation of the Republic of Rwanda: 01/28/1961)

29

SUN 		Nepal: Martyrs' Memorial Day Nepal Journey Mart Nepal embassy, London
(Date changes each year)


United States: Freethinker's Day Thomas Paine Journalism The American Revolution Merriam-Webster
(Observed annually in honor of Thomas Paine, born on this date 01/29/1737)

Kansas: Admission Day Kansas Library of Congress
(Commemorates admission of Kansas as the 34th state of the United States: 01/29/1861)

This Week Is...
Catholic Schools Week (Begins the last Sunday in January)
SKY & Telescope

30

MON 		India: Mohandas Gandhi Martyrdom Day India Mohandas Gandhi Indian National Congress
(Observance of the anniversary of the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi: 01/30/1948)

Jordan: King Abdullah's Birthday Jordan Jordan News Agency
(Observance of the birthday of King Abdullah: 01/30/1962)

31

TUE 		Nauru: Independence Day) Nauru CIA
(Celebration of independence from United Kingdom-administered United Nations trusteeship: 01/31/1968)

First Quarter Moon
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