The A.V. Club’s guide to January
D. Sinclair Terrasidius
Has your New Year's hangover subsided yet?
As a wise man once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” That’s the last thing we here at The A.V. Club want, so we’ve compiled a handy reference of notable events of the coming month to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the key holidays, remembrances, and events the next 31 days will offer.
Holidays (Day Off From Work category)
New Year’s Day, Jan. 1
The first day of the year, also known as National Holy Shit! I’m Hungover Day, starts the year with a day off from work. This year actually offers a special extra bonus, since Jan. 1 fell on Sunday, and most of us actually got Monday, Jan. 2 off. Nothing’s better than starting a new year by actually sticking to that New Year’s resolution to work less! On the downside, vacation is already over, since The A.V. Club took a few days off too, and this is running Jan. 3...
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 16
If you have a dream of getting another Monday off from work this month, you should get a government job, since government employees seem to be the only people who actually get the day off. Okay, so maybe Dr. King had a few dreams that were more profound than getting some of us off of work, but it’s okay to both honor a civil rights hero and relax, right?
Holidays (No Day Off From Work category)
Fruitcake Toss Day, Jan. 3
It’s the day when you’re supposed to throw away that fruitcake nobody will consider eating. That is supposing, of course, that you didn’t throw it out the moment you received it.
Houseplant Appreciation Day, Jan. 10
Your houseplants get their very own day this month, which they probably desperately need by now since we’ve all been neglecting them in favor of the tinsel-strewn Douglas fir we tended all December. By the way, if you had a tree and haven’t taken it down by this date, it’s time.
National Beer Can Appreciation Day, Jan. 24
This is a day to celebrate and remember the day back in 1935 when beer was first sold in cans. Looking for some ways to celebrate? Try drinking some local beer.
All Damn Month
January is National Blood Donor Month, so take 20 minutes to donate for the cause. It’s also National Braille Literacy Month and National Hobby Month, which can easily be combined for maximum efficiency. Perhaps most important, January is also National Hot Soup Month, National Oatmeal Month, and Hot Tea Month, which should help keep everyone warm during the snowy season.
Notable Birthdays
Famous little man Verne Troyer (who played Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films) was a New Year’s baby (Jan. 1, 1969), as was the famously reclusive and frequently banned author J.D. Salinger (Jan. 1, 1919). Infamous action hero-turned-crazy person Mel Gibson was born Jan 3, 1956 and crazy rock singer-turned-nice guy Marilyn Manson was born Jan. 5, 1969. January is actually quite the month for spawning rock stars, with notable artists such as David Bowie (Jan 8, 1947), Jimmy Page (Jan. 9, 1944), and INXS frontman Michael Hutchence (Jan. 22, 1960) emerging in the first month. January also brought us athletes like quarterback Drew Brees (Jan. 15, 1979), and home-run hitter Albert Pujols (Jan. 16, 1980). Finally, someone who’s shaped life as we know it by being on TV for longer than anyone can remember, Betty White (Jan. 17, 1922) turns 90 this year. (But who’s counting?)
