What Day of the Week
January 1: Day of the Week
January 1, 2020 was the 1st day of the year 2020 in the Gregorian calendar. There were 365 days remaining until the end of the year. The day of the week was Wednesday.
If you are trying to learn French then this day of the week in French is mercredi.
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Here’s the January calendar. You can also browse the full year monthly calendar.
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Zodiac & Birthstone
Capricorn is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Garnet is the modern birthstone for this month. Emerald is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
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January 1: This Day in History
The preceding day is December 31 of the previous year.
During the Middle Ages under the influence of the Christian Church, many countries moved the start of the year to one of several important Christian festivals — December 25 (the Nativity of Jesus), March 1, March 25 (the Annunciation), or even Easter. Eastern European countries (most of them with populations showing allegiance to the Orthodox Church) began their numbered year on September 1 from about 988.
In England, January 1 was celebrated as the New Year festival, but from the 12th century to 1752 the year in England began on March 25 (Lady Day). So, for example, the Parliamentary record records the execution of Charles I occurring in 1648 (as the year did not end until March 24), although modern histories adjust the start of the year to January 1 and record the execution as occurring in 1649.
Most western European countries changed the start of the year to January 1 before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. For example, Scotland changed the start of the Scottish New Year to January 1 in 1600. England, Ireland and the British colonies changed the start of the year to January 1 in 1752. Later that year in September, the Gregorian calendar was introduced throughout Britain and the British colonies. These two reforms were implemented by the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750.
January 1 became the official start of the year as follows:
- 1522 The Republic of Venice
- 1544 Holy Roman Empire (Germany)
- 1556 Spain, Portugal
- 1559 Prussia, Sweden
- 1564 France
- 1576 Southern Netherlands
- 1579 Lorraine
- 1583 United Provinces of the Netherlands (northern)
- 1600 Scotland
- 1700 Russia
- 1721 Tuscany
- 1752 Great Britain (excluding Scotland) and its colonies
January 1 Historical Event(s)
- 45 BCThe Julian calendar takes effect for the first time.
- 1515King Francis I of France succeeds to the French throne.
- 1804French rule ends in Haiti. Haiti becomes the first black republic and second independent country in North America after the United States
- 1812The Bishop of Durham, Shute Barrington, orders troops from Durham Castle to break up a miners strike in Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham
- 1863The first claim under the Homestead Act is made by Daniel Freeman for a farm in Nebraska.
- 1937Safety glass in vehicle windscreens becomes mandatory in the United Kingdom.
- 1956Sudan achieves independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom.
- 1957An Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit attacks Brookeborough RUC barracks in one of the most famous incidents of the IRA’s Operation Harvest.
- 1966A twelve-day New York City transit strike begins.
- 2002Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union’s member states.
Who were born on January 1?
- 1655Christian Thomasius, German jurist (d. 1728)
- 1888Georgios Stanotas, Greek cavalry officer (d. 1965)
- 1912Kim Philby, British spy (d. 1988)
- 1921Isma'il Raji al-Faruqi, Palestinian philosopher (d. 1986)
- 1923Milt Jackson, American jazz vibraphonist (d. 1999)
- 1946Susannah McCorkle, American writer and singer (d. 2001)
- 1975Eiichiro Oda, Japanese manga artist
- 1986Sungmin, South Korean singer (Super Junior)
- 1992He Kexin, Chinese gymnast
- 1992Jack Wilshere, English footballer
Now try another date like anniversaries, birthdays of someone you know or any other date that is special to you. Don’t forget to share the info to your friends, loved ones or social media followers. Who knows, they might appreciate and thank you for it.