New Year (Jan 1st): is marked as the end of one year and the beginning of another. It is celebrated at different times by different cultures. Gregorian calendar is followed by many countries and celebrates New Year at January 1st of each year. In modern Western practice, New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties and social gatherings spanning the transition of the year at midnight. Many cultures use fireworks and other forms of noise making in part of the celebration.
Epiphany, Three Kings (Jan 6th): is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God made Man in the person of Jesus Christ.
For more information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)
Muharram (Jan 8th): Tradition –Islam. It is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar. Muharram is so called because it is unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word haram, meaning "forbidden". It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan.
For more information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muharram
Laba (Jan 11th): Celebrated in Chinese tradition. Before the Qin Dynasty Laba festival was a celebration of the new harvest. After Buddhism spread to China during the first century AD, the festival was used as commemoration of Gautama Buddha's enlightenment at the age of 35. In the Qing dynasty, ceremonies for the Laba festival would have been held in the Yonghe Temple in Beijing.
For more information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laba_Festival
Makar Sankranti (Jan 14th): marks the transition of the Sun into Makar Rasi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. This is significant considering the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. Scientifically, the shortest day of the year is around December 21st-22nd after which the days begin to get longer. But because of the earth's tilt of 23.45 degrees and sliding of Equinoxes, Ayanamasha occurs. This has caused Makara Sankranti to slide further over the ages. 1000 years ago, Makar Sankranti was on Dec 31st and is now on January 14th. Traditionally it is one of the many harvest days in India. It is also considered the most auspicious day by Hindus and celebrated in different names: In Southern part of India, its celebrated as Pongal and in Punjab as Maghi.
For more information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankranti
Martin Luther King Day (Jan 18th): is celebrated in United States of America, in marking his birth date. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. He was assassinated in 1968.
For more information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr._Day
Australia Day (Jan 26th) : also referred to as Invasion Day by several groups within Australian society, is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.[
For more information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Day
Republic Day (Jan 26th): The Constitution of India came into force, and India declared itself a Republic on 26 January, 1950, a day thereafter celebrated annually as Republic Day in India. The Constitution had been drafted by the Constituent Assembly headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar which was set up when India gained its independence from the British in 1947.
For more information click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day
