Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen (or more)facts about January :

January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days.

It is, on average, the coolest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere, characterizing the onset of the Winter and Summer in both hemispheres respectively.

January's birthstone is the garnet which represents constancy.The name garnet comes to us from the Latin granatum malum and means pomegranate. Jewels made from garnet have been made since the Bronze Age, over 3,000 years ago. Garnet jewelry has been found in Egypt (3100 B.C.E.), Sumeria (2300 B.C.E.), and Sweden (2000 B.C.E.). The Ancient Greeks treasured the gem as did the Romans, who gave it its name.


Its birth flower is the carnation or snowdrop.

The Chinese floral emblem of January is the plum blossom.

The Japanese floral emblem of January is the camellia

January is . . . . National Careers in Cosmetology Month, National Eye Health Care Month, National Fiber Focus Month, National Hobby Month, National Soup Month, Hot Tea Month, Oatmeal Month, Prune Breakfast Month.

Birthdays celebrated today include:
29th January : Sleeping Beauty 1959
29th January : Tommy Dorsey 1937
29th January : Dolly Parton's "9 to 5"