January

January is the first month of the year according to the Gregorian and Julian calendars. It has 31 days. The Somali name is derived from the English "January", which originates from the Latin "Ianuarius".

The first day of January marks the beginning of the new year in the global calendar and is an official holiday in many countries. The month ends on 31 January, followed by February.

Origin of the name

The Latin word Ianuarius is associated with Janus, a Roman god of doors and beginnings. His conventional depiction shows two faces facing opposite directions: one looking backward, one looking forward. In the early Roman calendar, the year began in March; January and February were added later, after which January was designated as the first month.

Position in the calendar

January is one of seven months with 31 days. Each year, January begins on the same day of the week as October; in non-leap years (365 days), it also shares the same day as the beginning of October only. In the following year, January's dates shift by one day of the week (or two if the previous year was a leap year).

Climate

In the Northern Hemisphere, January falls during winter and is one of the coldest months in most places. In the Southern Hemisphere, it falls during summer. In regions near the equator, such as Somalia, temperature variation is slight; January tends to be marked by cool conditions and northeasterly winds.

Associated observances

1 January is New Year's Day worldwide. Many countries observe various national and religious observances in this month, though the dates vary from country to country. Other calendar systems—such as the Islamic calendar, which is lunar-based—have their year beginnings unrelated to January and shift annually relative to the Gregorian calendar.