January

TypeMonth
TraditionInternational
BasisSolar
Introduced / dateRoman calendar
Key figure31 days

About January

January is named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doorways and beginnings. Rome's consuls took office on 1 January from 153 BCE, which helped make it the start of the year, although many medieval Christian states began the year at Christmas, 25 March or Easter. England only fixed 1 January as the legal new year from 1752.

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