Ah, January. The post-holiday season. The start of the winter doldrums. A long, dreary month, right? As Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many more favorites once said, “If I had my way, I’d remove January from the calendar altogether and have an extra July instead.”
But not so fast. Where’s the love for the first month of the year? The month of January contains plenty of moments that matter and reasons to celebrate.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Most notably, on January 17 we celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Baptist minister and civil rights leader who advocated for an end to segregation. It’s a good time to reflect on how far we’ve come – and how much work still needs to be done to ensure racial equality and fairness. While “MLK Day” is a federal holiday, many mark the occasion with volunteering and other acts of service, making it “a day on, not a day off.”
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Another important day of note is International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. This somber occasion honors the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi genocide.
Indian Republic Day
January 26 is India’s Republic Day, which commemorates the 1950 enactment of India’s constitution and the formal birth of the Republic of India.
Bubble baths, rubber ducks, and word nerds
The remaining celebrations in the month revolve around fairly obscure interests or ideas. There’s National Bubble Bath Day on January 8 and National Rubber Ducky Day on January 13, for those who are inclined to celebrate bathing. Then there’s National Word Nerd Day on January 9 and National Thesaurus Day January 18 for the logophiles in your life.
Get to Know Your Customer Day
We’d be remiss if we didn’t also point out that January 20 is Get to Know Your Customer Day. May we suggest a survey to start things off?
Why is the cat screaming at me?
And finally, January 22 is Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day. Most cats probably have the same question, so, in the interest of maintaining détente between felines and humans, here’s the answer: It’s not time to feed you again, please be patient.
You’re welcome.
January holidays and celebrations
- January 1: New Year’s Day
- January 2: National Science Fiction Day
- January 3: International Mind-Body Wellness Day
- January 4: National Spaghetti Day
- January 5: National Bird Day
- January 6: Epiphany
- January 7: Old Rock Day
- January 8: National Bubble Bath Day
- January 9: National Word Nerd Day
- January 10: National Houseplant Appreciation Day
- January 11: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
- January 12: National Youth Day
- January 13: National Rubber Ducky Day
- January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day
- January 15: National Bagel Day
- January 16: National Nothing Day
- January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 18: National Thesaurus Day
- January 19: National Popcorn Day
- January 20: Get to Know Your Customer Day
- January 21: National Squirrel Appreciation Day
- January 22: Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
- January 23: National Pie Day
- January 24: National Compliment Day
- January 25: Opposite Day
- January 26: Indian Republic Day
- January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- January 28: Data Privacy Day
- January 29: National Puzzle Day
- January 30: National Croissant Day
- January 31: National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
What’s on your calendar this month? From conversations with colleagues, fun with friends and family, and connections with customers, what’s adding flavor to your January? Drop us a note and let us know what we missed!
