January 1

New Year's Day

Happy New Year! Gullukkig Niuw Jaar! (Dutch) Onnellista Uutta Vuotta! (Finnish) Feliz Ano Novo! (Portuguese).

January 6

Epiphany

According to the New Testament's Gospels, on this date the Magi, the three wise men or kings, venerated and brought gifts to the infant Jesus. The word epiphany is not specific to Christianity, as Zeus's alias, "Epiphanes," can attest. It comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning "manifestation." In many countries, Three Kings Day is a traditional time of gift giving. Bake a traditional King Cake with a lucky bean inside! Whoever finds the bean is the king of the feast.

January 7, 1789

The electors were chosen for the first U.S. presidential election. (George Washington was elected president on February 4.).

January 23, 1971

Eighty degrees below zero F at Prospect Creek, Alaska.