24 fun facts for January, 4
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
January 4 is a day full of interesting events, from historic moments like the launch of the Euro currency and Utah's statehood to cultural celebrations such as National Spaghetti Day and World Braille Day. Key birthdays include Sir Isaac Newton and T.S. Eliot, making January 4 a day rich in heritage and education.
24 Fun facts
- On January 4, 1960, French author Albert Camus died in a car accident. Camus was a philosopher, author, and journalist who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957.
- The first known sighting of Mars through a telescope occurred on January 4, 1659. Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens observed Mars, making its first detailed study.
- January 4, 1987, Spain and Portugal joined the European Economic Community (EEC), now known as the European Union (EU), increasing the bloc's membership to twelve countries.
- On January 4, 1999, the Euro currency was officially launched in eleven European Union countries. The event marked a major milestone in Europe's economic integration.
- National Spaghetti Day is celebrated in the United States on January 4. On this day, Americans celebrate the popular Italian dish by enjoying spaghetti meals with friends and family.
- On January 4, 1896, Utah became the 45th state to join the United States. This event is now celebrated as Utah Statehood Day.
- Jacob Grimm, one half of the famous Brothers Grimm, was born on January 4, 1785. The Grimm brothers are known for their collection of folktales, which include stories like Cinderella and Snow White.
- On January 4, 1974, US President Richard Nixon refused to hand over tapes and documents that had been subpoenaed by the Watergate special prosecutor, leading to a constitutional crisis.
- The first edition of Isaac Asimov's science fiction magazine, Asimov's Science Fiction, was published on January 4, 1977.
- On January 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi made history as the first female Speaker of the US House of Representatives.
- In 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4. This event marked the beginning of the modern-day music chart industry.
- On January 4, 1998, WiFi was first announced by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
- January 4, 1954, marked the first use of the term "rock 'n' roll" by Cleveland, Ohio DJ Alan Freed during his radio show.
- In the United States, January 4 is National Trivia Day, a day to celebrate random facts and obscure information.
- The United Nations recognizes January 4 as World Braille Day, celebrating the importance of Braille for blind and visually impaired people.
- On January 4, Burma (now Myanmar) declared its independence from Britain in 1948, ending 62 years of colonial rule.
- Sir Isaac Newton, the renowned mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, was born on January 4, 1643.
- In 1821, the first issue of the Saturday Evening Post, one of America's oldest and most widely circulated magazines, was published on January 4.
- On January 4, 1972, US President Richard Nixon signed a bill that gave financial aid to NASA to develop the Space Shuttle program.
- January 4 is Independence Day in the Congo, celebrating their independence from Belgium in 1960.
- On January 4, 1995, Newt Gingrich became the first Republican Speaker of the House in 40 years, ushering in a new era of Republican control in the US Congress.
- English author and poet T.S. Eliot was born on January 4, 1888. Eliot is best known for his modernist poems like "The Waste Land" and "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."
- The first successful human blood transfusion was performed by British obstetrician James Blundell on January 4, 1818.
- January 4, 2011, saw the launch of the social media platform Snapchat, which has since become an integral part of internet culture.