Fact 1: The Name Origin
January 7 is in the first month of the year, January, whose name is derived from the Latin word "Janus". Janus is the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, perfectly befitting the start of a fresh year.
Fact 2: Celebrated as Christmas in Some Countries
While most of the world celebrates Christmas on December 25, the Orthodox Christian Church, including countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Serbia, commemorate Christmas on January 7. This variance is due to the discrepancies between the Julian and Gregorian calendars.
Fact 3: Galileo Galilei’s Telescope Discovery
Galileo Galilei discovered Jupiter's four largest moons, also known as the Galilean satellites, on January 7, 1610. The moons - Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, have been fundamentally important for the development of astronomy.
Fact 4: National Tempura Day
In the United States, January 7th is celebrated as National Tempura Day, which honors a Japanese dish that typically comprises of seafood or vegetables deep-fried in a light, crispy batter.
Fact 5: Historical Weather Records
On this day, in 1896, the mercury bottomed out at -51 degrees Fahrenheit in Utah, representing the coldest day in the state's history. While on January 7, 2010, Miami experienced its coldest weather in a decade with a low temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fact 6: Famous Birthdays
Many notable figures were born on January 7, including Nicolas Cage, award-winning actor and producer, Jeremy Renner, known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary Japanese filmmaker.
Fact 7: A World-First for TV Broadcasting
On January 7, 1975, France made history by becoming the first country to broadcast television programming in color.
Fact 8: The Day That Lasts 48 Hours
Technically, January 7 is the longest day of the year. Due to the International Date Line, the day lasts 48 hours with the earliest time zones a day ahead of the latest.
Fact 9: Tragic Greek Maritime Accident
January 7, 1996, marked a tragic day in the Greek maritime history when the ship MS Express Samina sank off the coast of the island of Paros, leading to the loss of 82 lives.
Fact 10: Cotton Candy Patent
On this day in 1904, William Morrison and John C. Wharton patented their "Fairy Floss" machine, which later became widely known as a cotton candy machine.
Fact 11: A Bridge Collapse in Australia
On January 7, 1975, the Tasman Bridge in Tasmania collapsed when a bulk carrier ship, Lake Illawarra, collided with it, killing 12 people.
Fact 12: Pall Mall Cigarettes Introduction
On January 7, 1899, the American Tobacco Company unveiled Pall Mall cigarettes, soon to be one of the world's best-selling cigarette brands.
Fact 13: A Train-Pigeon Race
In a curious event on this day in 1887, a homing pigeon beat a special train from Worcester to London in one of the unique races.
Fact 14: A Leap Second Added
On January 7, 1972, scientists added a "leap second" to the world's clocks to compensate for the earth's slowing rotation.
Fact 15: The Fire of Ash Street
Toronto’s famed Ash Street fire broke out on this day in 1969, consuming several buildings and leading to significant firefighting advancements.
Fact 16: Debut of a Classical Music Staple
Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 debuted on this day in 1773. Nicknamed "the little G minor", this is among his most famous youthful works.
Fact 17: Geophysical Year Ends
January 7, 1958, marked the end of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), a global effort of scientific research started in 1957, which led to significant discoveries in geophysics.
Fact 18: Release of Macintosh 128k
On January 7, 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh 128k, a significant technological advancement that revolutionized personal computing.
Fact 19: 'West Side Story' Concludes its Broadway Run
The popular musical 'West Side Story' concluded its initial Broadway run on January 7, 1960, after 732 performances.
Fact 20: First Commercial Flight in Hawaii
On January 7, 1929, Inter-Island Airways (now Hawaiian Airlines) operated its first commercial flight, a sightseeing trip over Oahu.