MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
On the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr Day honors the American clergyman, activist, Civil Rights Movement leader. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.(January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) is best known for his role in advancing civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. King has become a national icon in the history of American progressivism. #MartinLutherKingJrDay
POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY
January 17 marks the 95th Birthday of the world’s most famous spinach loving, nautical hero — it’s Popeye the Sailor Man! Today, we are taking epic strides to honor this legendary sailor who is tough and fit with tons of grit, as one of America’s most renown, pop-culture icons. After all, he yam what he yam! #PopeyeTheSailorManDay
Notable Birthdays for January 17
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) – Founding father and inventor who discovered lightning was electrical.
Al Capone (1899-1947) – Infamous mob boss.
Irving Brecher (1914-2008) – Screenwriter for Groucho Marx movies and the Wizard of Oz.
Betty White (1922-2021) – Multi-award winning actress and comedian.
James Earl Jones (1931-2024) – Multi-award winning actor who will always be recognized by his deep voice.
Shari Lewis (1933-1998) – Ventriloquist and puppeteer of the loved character Lamb Chop.
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) – World heavyweight champion boxer known as The Greatest.
Steve Harvey (1957-) – Actor, comedian, and game show host.
Memorable Events for January 17
1871 – The first cable car is patented by Andrew Smith Hallidie.
1905 – Charles Brewer & C G Scannell patents punchboards (bingo cards).
1917 – The U.S. buys the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.
1929 – Popeye makes his first appearance in the comic strip Thimble Theater.
NATIONAL THESAURUS DAY
National Thesaurus Day, on January 18th, honors Peter Mark Roget, the author of Roget’s Thesaurus, who was born on this day in 1779. #NationalThesaurusDay
Memorable Birthdays for January 18
Thomas A. Watson (1854-1934) – Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant who helped with the invention of the telephone.
Daniel Hale Williams (1856-1931) – Cardiologist who performed the first open heart surgery.
Oliver Hardy (1892-1957) – Comedian and half of the duo Laurel and Hardy.
Kevin Costner (1955-) – Multi-award winning actor with credits in The Untouchables (1987), Open Range (2003), Black or White (2014), and recently Yellowstone.
Amy Barger (1971-) – Astronomer who discovered dusty galaxies, quasars and supermassive black holes.
Burnie Burns (1973-) – Co-founder of Rooster Teeth Productions, a sub company of Warner Brothers.
Memorable Events for January 18
1644 – Pilgrims report a UFO sighting.
1733 – The first polar bear exhibit is open to the public in MA.
1778 – Captain James Cook stumbles over the Hawaiian Islands and what he referred to as the Sandwich Islands.
1896 – The first demonstration of an X-ray machine is held in NY City.
1903 – The first transatlantic radio transmission in the U.S. is sent by a transmitter in MA.
1916 – A meteorite hits a house in Stone County, MO.
1964 – Plans for World Trade Center announced in NY City.
1993 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is officially observed for the first time in the U.S.
NATIONAL WINNIE THE POOH DAY
National Winnie the Pooh Day on January 18th commemorates author A.A. Milne’s birthday in 1882. He brought the adorable, honey-loving bear to life in his stories, which also featured his son, Christopher Robin. #WinnieThePoohDay
NATIONAL POPCORN DAY
On January 19th, National Popcorn Day pops onto the scene with a crunch we all love to enjoy! The annual celebration recognizes a treat that satisfies munchies, day or night. #NationalPopcornDay
Notable Birthdays for January 19
Sarah Helen Whitman (1803-1878) – Poet and romantic interest of Edgar Allan Poe.
Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) – General of the Confederate Army.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) – Short story writer and considered one of the greatest poets of all time.
Guy Madison (1922-1996) – Actor best remembered for his role as Wild Bill in The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok.
Jean Stapleton (1923-2013) – Actress known for her award-winning role as Edith Bunker in All In the Family.
Nicholas Colasanto (1924-1985) – Actor fondly remembered for his funny role as Ernie in Cheers.
Tippi Hedren (1930-) – Model who graced the covers for Life and Glamour magazines.
Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (1936-2011) – Musician who made the harmonica a part of mainstream music.
Janis Joplin (1943-1970) – Singer of Me and Bobby McGee and Piece of My Heart.
Dolly Parton (1946-) – Famous country singer.
Paula Deen (1947-) – Chef well-recognized from the Food Network.
Bruce Jay Nelson (1952-1999) – Computer scientist who invented the remote Procedure Call Concept for computer network communications.
Desi Arnaz Jr. (1953-) – Actor and son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Thomas Kinkade (1958-2012) – One of the first artists who successfully mass marketed his works as of his work as printed reproductions.
Memorable Events for January 19
1883 – The first electric lighting system begins service in NJ.
1937 – Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from LA to NY City (7 hours and 28 minutes).
1953 – More than 72% of people in the U.S. tune in to watch Lucy give birth on I Love Lucy.
NATIONAL DISC JOCKEY DAY
Each year National Disc Jockey Day recognizes the DJs playing the music and spinning the records. The observance takes place annually on January 20th. #NationalDiscJockeyDay
Notable Birthdays January 20th
Harold Gray (1894-1968) – Cartoonist who created Little Orphan Annie.
George Burns (1896-1996) – Beloved actor and comedian.
DeForest Kelley (1920-1999) – Actor best known for his role as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the series Star Trek.
Ray Anthony (1922-Still Living) – Bandleader, trumpeter, and last living band member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY
On January 21st, Squirrel Appreciation Day recognizes a critter some consider a pest and others see as just fascinating. The creator, Christy Hargrove, is a wildlife rehabilitator in North Carolina and is affiliated with the Western North Carolina Nature Center. According to Christy, “Celebration of the event itself is up to the individual or group — anything from putting out extra food for the squirrels to learning something new about the species.” #SquirrelAppreciationDay
CELEBRATION OF LIFE DAY
Celebration of Life Day on January 22nd honors the children and grandchildren who bring joy to our lives. The day is a reminder that each child and each life is to be held as a precious gift with the highest respect and dignity. #CelebrationOfLifeDay
NATIONAL HANDWRITING DAY
National Handwriting Day on January 23rd encourages us to put pen to paper and write out our thoughts. According to the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association, it is a chance for all to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting. #NationalHandwritingDay
Notable Birthdays for January 23
Joseph Hewes (1730-1779) – Signer of Declaration of Independence signatory.
John Hancock (1737-1793) – The first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Walter Frederick Morrison (1920-2010) – Invented of the Frisbee.
Anita Pointer (1948-2022) – Singer of the pop group the Pointer Sisters.
Mariska Hargitay (1964-Still Living) – Actress in the long-running t.v. series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
NATIONAL PLAN FOR VACATION DAY
National Plan for Vacation Day, on the last Tuesday in January, reminds us to plan our vacation at the start of the year for the rest of the year. The early bird gets to pack their bags and fly away to a little fun and relaxation! #PlanForVacation