January 1: Day of the Week
January 1, 2019 was the 1st day of the year 2019 in the Gregorian calendar. There were 364 days remaining until the end of the year. The day of the week was Tuesday.
If you are trying to learn French then this day of the week in French is mardi.
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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)
- 1527Croatian nobles elect Ferdinand I of Austria as king of Croatia in the Parliament on Cetin.
- 1600Scotland begins its numbered year on January 1 instead of March 25.
- 1651Charles II is crowned King of Scotland.
- 1772The first traveler’s cheques, which can be used in 90 European cities, go on sale in London, England, Great Britain.
- 1801The dwarf planet Ceres is discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi.
- 1899Spanish rule ends in Cuba.
- 1913The British Board of Censors is established.
- 1934Alcatraz Island becomes a United States federal prison.
- 1945World War II: Operation Nordwind, the last major German offensive on the Western Front begins.
- 2002Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union’s member states.
Who were born on January 1?
- 1803Guglielmo Libri Carucci dalla Sommaja, Italian mathematician (d. 1869)
- 1860Jan Vilímek, Czech illustrator and painter (d. 1938)
- 1888John Garand, American inventor (d. 1974)
- 1920Willie Fennell, Australian comedian, actor (d. 1992)
- 1929Haruo Nakajima, Japanese actor
- 1938Clay Cole, American television host and producer (d. 2010)
- 1942Country Joe McDonald, American musician (Country Joe and the Fish)
- 1943Ronald Perelman, American businessman
- 1978Mykhaylo Renzhyn, Latvian skier
- 1978Tarik O'Regan, British composer
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.