Yes! Goodbye 2021, hello 2022, and here we are, a new year. New Year means we are in January or Njanuary, as many people refer to the year’s first month. There are bills to pay, school fees to pay, dealing with the festive hangovers if you partied hard enough, and it is also the rural-urban migration season. However, did you know that there are reasons to celebrate January except for the setbacks this month brings?

The Origin of January

January derives its name from Janu, the god of beginnings in Roman Mythology. Janu was believed to be the protector of doorways, gates, and paths, which s befitting since most people view January as the beginning of new things, new resolutions, behavioral change. Further, January is the first month in both the Gregorian and Julian calendars and is the first of the seven months with 31days that precedes March, May, July, August, October, and December.

Interesting Things About January

In many places in the Northern Hemisphere, January is the coldest month of the year.

In the U.S., January is reported to be the month with the highest divorce cases since most people who plan on divorcing wait until the festive season is over for them to file for a divorce. Other people, however, do so to simplify their income tax process.

Additionally, close to 100 people in the U.S. whose first or last name is January. For instance, a modern-day actress called January Jones was born on January 5^th, 1978. Although she was not named after the month, she was named after January Wayne, a character in Jacqueline Susann’s novel, Once Is Not Enough.

Each day of January is a day to celebrate something, as listed below

• 1^st Happy New Year’s Day
• 2^nd Swiss Cheese Day
• 3^rd Women’s Rock Day
• 4^th National Spaghetti Day
• 5^th National Bird Day
• 6^th Bean Day
• 7^th Tempura Day
• 8^th Bubble Bath Day
• 9^th National Apricot Day
• 10^th Houseplant Appreciation Day
• 11^th National Hot Toddy Day
• 12^th National Marzipan Day
• 13^th National Peach Melba Day
• 14^th Organize Your Home Day
• 15^th Strawberry Ice Cream Day
• 16^th International Hot and Spicy Food Day
• 17^th Hot Buttered Rum Day
• 18^th National Gourmet Coffee Day
• 19^th National Popcorn Day
• 20^th MLK Junior Day
• 21^st National Hugging Day
• 22^nd Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
• 23^rd National Pie Day
• 24^th Beer Can Appreciation Day
• 25^th National Irish Coffee Day
• 26^th National Peanut Brittle Day
• 27^th Thomas Crapper Day
• 28^th National Daisy Day
• 29^th National Puzzle Day
• 30^th National Croissant Day

31^st Eat Brussels Sprouts Day

With this in mind, next time the ‘Njanuary fever’ attacks you, remember all other reasons to celebrate the first month of the year.