Event Calendar

New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar also used in ancient Rome. In countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar, it is a public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts.

In Native American and early Colonial times, the Full Moon for January was called the Full Wolf Moon. It appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages.Traditionally, the January Moon is also known as the Old Moon. A full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun. At this time, as seen by viewers on Earth, the hemisphere of the Moon that is facing the earth (the near side) is fully illuminated by the Sun and appears round. Only during a full moon is the opposite hemisphere of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth (the far side), completely unilluminated. As a lunar month is about 29.531, the period between full moons can be either 29 or 30 days.

The day is a United States holiday marking the birthdate of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year. It is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person. King was the chief spokesman of the nonviolent civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. He was assassinated in 1968.

Sometimes a compliment really goes a long way. To celebrate Compliment Day, simply launch sincere flattery attacks on random people throughout the day, especially those who wouldn't expect it. To give yourself a challenge, find compliments for people that you don't like. The key, of course, is sincerity. Complimentday.com suggests that you try to compliment 2-5 people and provides a list of sample compliments for those who struggle with the art of flattery.

There are thousands of spoken languages in the world, but what unites everyone? Laughter! Even the title of the day can bring a smile to your face! We all know how good it feels to laugh, but exactly why does it make us so healthy and happy? Having a good chuckle causes the tissue lining our blood vessels to expand increase blood flow. This makes us feel more positive, boosts our immune systems, increases pain tolerance, and generally just makes us feel happier and more energetic! So, on Global Belly Laugh Day, throw your arms up in the air and laugh out loud to celebrate the gift of laughter!

2017 marks the Year of the Rooster. The date of Chinese New Year’s changes every year. It is a 15-day celebration, beginning on the first day of the new moon and ends on the full moon. The celebration on the 15th day is called the Lantern Festival. Chinese culture is amongst the oldest in the world. While the rest of the world is in the early years of but the third millennium, Chinese culture is in their fifth millennium. Chinese New Year’s or Spring Festival, is the biggest holiday in Chinese culture. It is celebrated with festivities, fireworks, brightly colored lights, special meals with family and gift giving. Like Christmas in the western world, most Chinese travel home to be with family for the new year celebration.