January 1st (1997) was a Wednesday. It's the 0th day of the year (1st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 365 days left to the end of the year.
Historical Events for 1st January, 1997
» Democratic Republic of the Congo known as Zaire officially joins the World Trade Organization.
» Ghanaian diplomacy or diplomat Kofi Annan is appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations.
January 1st Famous Deaths for 1997
» Ivan Graziani, Italian singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1945)
» Townes Van Zandt, American singer-songwriter (b. 1944)
January 1st Holidays in History
» Christian Calendar of saints called Feast Day:
» Basil of Caesarea called Basil the Great (Eastern Orthodox Church)
» Circumcision of Jesus known as Feast of the Circumcision of Christ
» Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Lutheranism named Lutheran Church)
» Fulgentius of Ruspe
» Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Octave (liturgical) e.g Octave Day of Christmas, considered a holy day of obligation in some countries (Catholic Church)
» Saint Telemachus named Telemachus
» World Day of Peace (Catholic Church)
» January 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
» Constitution Day (Italy)
» Dissolution of Czechoslovakia related observances:
» Public holidays in Slovakia named Day of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic (Slovakia)
» Public holidays in the Czech Republic or Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State (Czech Republic)
» Earliest day on which Handsel Monday can fall, while January 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Monday of the year (Scotland)
» Public holidays in Taiwan known as Founding Day (Taiwan)
» Global Family Day (International observance or International)
» List of national independence days e.g Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Brunei from United Kingdom in 1984
» Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Haiti from France in 1804
» Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Sudan from United Kingdom in 1956
» Arbor Day e.g National Tree Planting Day (Tanzania)
» Public Domain Day
» The eighth Twelve Days of Christmas or day of Christmas (Western Christianity)
» The last day of Kwanzaa (United States)
» The presidents of Brazil and Switzerland take possession.