Kickstart Your Year with These Top 11 Astonishing January Fun Facts

1. January's Calendar Makeover

In the days when New Year's resolutions were really procrastinated upon: January used to be the last month of the original Roman calendar, until a reformed calendar ushered in by Julius "Caesar-salad" had January named after the double-faced god Janus, who represented looking both forward and backward, securing its position as the reboot point of the year.
Source => britishmuseum.org

2. National Hobby Month

Get ready to unleash your inner Wright brother or take a fantastical journey à la Neil Armstrong with your favorite figurines: January is National Hobby Month, a time to dive into the world of model trains, board games, puzzles, and more, while developing problem-solving skills and fostering creativity.
Source => nrhsa.org

Did you know February can pass without a full moon? Discover how this unique month acts as a celestial therapist in both leap and non-leap years! 🌒

=> Fun Facts about February

3. Public Domain Day

As Frost "stopped by woods on a snowy evening" and Chaplin danced with delight, a bumper crop of culture sprung from the depths of copyright hibernation: On January 1, 2019, works from 1923 finally entered the US public domain, including masterpieces by Robert Frost, Aldous Huxley, and Edith Wharton, as well as cinematic gems starring Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, all thanks to the 20-year extension that Congress had granted to copyrights in 1998.
Source => web.law.duke.edu

4. Garnet: January's Birthstone

Once upon a whimsical time, a dandy stone dressed in crimson hues stole the limelight at European tea parties, leaving the green-eyed emerald and pious pearl sighing in their jewelry boxes: This delightful gem is none other than the January birthstone, garnet, which was adored for its vivacious presence in Victorian-era trinkets and for symbolizing love, friendship, vigorous endurance, and a heart brimming with life's vitality – leaving January babes with a fashionable reason to flaunt their fiery garnet heirlooms!
Source => lireille.com

5. Snowdrops: January Birth Flower

Snowdrop it like it's hot: As winter's daintiest little rebel, January's birth flower, the snowdrop, once brought shivers of bad luck due to its association with graveyards, but now symbolizes hope, purity, and renewal, often bravely poking through layers of snow and even hosting its own festival in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
Source => extension.psu.edu

6. International Creativity Month

Oh, the audacity of the artists in the 14th century, thinking they were the creative cats behind their own masterpieces! Little did they know, signing their names on their work would spark a wave of paint-slinging, feather-dusting artistic narcissism: Back in the 14th century, when artists started signing their names on their work, the term "create" made its first appearance in a book called "The Parson's Table". This marked the start of artists acknowledging themselves as the source of their creativity, replacing any divine intervention. This fun tidbit is remembered as we celebrate International Creativity Month every January.
Source => nationaltoday.com

7. National Blueberry Pancake Day

Feeling a little blue after the holiday season? Why not channel that energy into something scrumptious and nutritious for your belly: January 28th is National Blueberry Pancake Day! In this delightful celebration, the humble pancake teams up with the mighty blueberry to bring you a breakfast extravaganza packed with vitamin K, vitamin C, manganese, and copper. Just remember to add the berries after dolloping the batter onto the griddle, lest your stack looks like Smurf cuisine. Share your creations with #BlueberryPancakeDay and spread the sweet, fruity joy!
Source => nationaldaycalendar.com

8. National Bloody Mary Day

In a spirited stroke of genius, some brilliant partygoers decided it would be fitting to remedy the post-celebration woes of New Year's Day with a tangy, kick-in-the-pants beverage, concocting a spicy mixture almost as zesty as their festive desires: introducing National Bloody Mary Day, observed every January 1st in the United States to honor the tasty cocktail made up of vodka, tomato juice, and an assortment of spices, allegedly invented between the roaring 1920s and 1930s, and regarded by some as a tried-and-true hangover cure.
Source => nationaldaycalendar.com

9. Opposite Day Paradox

In a world where logic twists into hilarious confusion and your morning pancakes may become your nighttime feast: welcome to Opposite Day, celebrated on January 25th! Traced back to a playful game from the 1900s, this unofficial holiday delights revelers on social media with hashtags like #nationaloppositeday and #oppositeday, even while the Opposite Day Paradox questions its very existence.
Source => holidayscalendar.com

10. Alaska Statehood Day

You would think that a former five-star general would have no qualms about playing "Risk" with a barren and icy territory, but lo and behold: President Eisenhower initially hesitated to grant statehood to Alaska due to Cold War security concerns! After various drills of diplomatic tactics and strategic maneuvers, Ike eventually defrosted his doubts and signed the official proclamation on July 7, 1958, making Alaska our solid 49th state, with January 3rd earmarked as Alaska Statehood Day.
Source => eisenhowerlibrary.gov

11. Turmeric: The Yellow Fairy Dust

Before you "curry on" and let arthritis or nagging headaches spice up your life, you might want to sprinkle some yellow fairy dust—also known as turmeric—into your meals: this magnificent spice has been used for more than 6,000 years in ancient medical practices to treat various conditions, including the aforementioned unwelcome guests.
Source => nationaltoday.com