1 January

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Overview

1 January is the first day of the Gregorian calendar, marking the beginning of a new year. It is also known as New Year's Day in many countries.

History and Calendar

The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, is the most widely used civil calendar in the world. In this calendar, 1 January is the first day of the year, followed by 364 days (or 365 in leap years) until the end of the year.

Historical Events

Several significant events have occurred on 1 January throughout history:

* 45 BC: The Julian calendar was introduced.
* 69 AD: The legion of Upper Germany rebelled and swore allegiance to Tiberius, rather than the exiled Emperor Galba.
* 193 AD: The Roman Senate chose Pertinax as the successor of Commodus as Emperor of Rome against his will.
* 404 AD: According to Christian tradition, gladiators were banned in Rome.
* 630 AD: Muhammad began a campaign with his army.
* 898 AD: The King of West Francia began his term as king.
* 1001 AD: Stephen I was proclaimed King of Hungary by Pope Sylvester II.
* 1387 AD: Charles III became the King of Navarra.
* 1481 AD: The Spanish Inquisition began.
* 1502 AD: Gaspar de Lemos, a Portuguese explorer, first arrived at the Gulf in Brazil, which he named "Rarow de Janeiro".
* 1515 AD: François I became King of France.

Notable Dates

Other notable dates that have occurred on 1 January include:

* 4713 BC: According to Joseph Justus Scaliger's calendar, this was a Jubilee day.
* 153 BC: The Roman consuls began their term in office.

Usage and Significance

In many countries, 1 January is celebrated as New Year's Day. It is also the first day of the first two semesters and four annual quarters, marking the beginning of a new cycle. However, it was not always the first day of the year; in the Middle Ages, the year began on the movable date of Easter.

Writing Style

Unlike other days, 1 January is often written with an ordinal indicator (e.g., "1st January"). While this is still common, the use of a cardinal number (e.g., "1 January") is becoming increasingly popular.