What Month is January?

January is the first month of the year

January, abbreviated as Jan, is the 1st month of the Gregorian calendar, coming after December and before February.

January gets its name from Janus, the ancient Roman god of doors, gates, and transitions. Janus was often depicted with two faces, one looking forward and one looking back, symbolizing endings and beginnings.

Because January marks the transition from the old year to the new one, it was seen as an appropriate month to honor Janus. The Romans named the month Ianuarius in his honor, reflecting the idea of looking back at the past year while facing the possibilities of the year ahead.

Learn more about the 12 months of the year.

Details About January

Days
31 days
Weeks
4 weeks & 3 days
Hours
744 hours
Quarter
Q1

Use our January countdown calculator to see how many days there are until January.

How to Pronounce January

jan·yoo·er·ee

January 2026 Calendar

    New Year's
Martin Luther King Jr. Day

You can also print a formatted calendar with holidays with our January 2026 Calendar.

Key Dates in January

January Symbols

The birthstone for January is the Garnet. The birth flowers for January are the carnation and snowdrop, symbolizing love, hope, purity, and fresh beginnings.

January Zodiac Signs

  • ♒ Aquarius (Water Bearer): January 21 - February 19
  • ♑ Capricorn (Goat): December 22 - January 20

See what month it currently is.