January – named after the Roman god Janus, the god of gates and doorways who has two faces that look in opposite directions – the year past and the year to come.
Attention, time-travellers with a flair for festivity: if you’re looking for a historical celebration steeped in opulence and meaning, join the court of a monarch on Epiphany (January 6). This Christian feast day, marking the visit of the Magi to…
Mark your calendars, time travellers! Twelfth Night, celebrated on January 5th, is the grand finale of the Christmas season and the ultimate excuse for merrymaking in centuries past. This vibrant holiday was the highlight of the festive calendar, blending traditions…
Pack your sea legs, time travellers, and head to Liverpool, England, on January 5, 1818, to witness the start of an era-defining event: the launch of the first regular transatlantic shipping service between Liverpool and New York. With the maiden…
Get ready to pack your bags for the windswept beauty of Galway, Ireland, on January 5, 1787, where the future historian and genealogist Sir John Burke is born. A man who would go on to immortalise aristocratic lineages with his…
For thrill-seekers and history buffs alike, January 4, 1967, at Coniston Water in the Lake District is a moment of electrifying ambition and poignant tragedy. On this day, Donald Campbell, Britain’s legendary speed record chaser, made his ill-fated attempt to…
Mark your calendars, trivia buffs and curious minds! January 4th is Trivia Day, the unofficial holiday that celebrates the art of knowing a little bit about everything—and proudly showing it off. Whether you’re a whiz at ancient history, an expert…
Get ready to step back in time to the charming seaside town of Tenby, Wales, on a crisp winter’s day in 1878. This picturesque spot, known for its colourful houses and sandy beaches, also happens to be the birthplace of…
Ready your pith helmets and prepare for a jaunt to one of the most exciting archaeological moments in history: January 3, 1924, in Luxor, Egypt. On this day, Howard Carter, the indefatigable British archaeologist, pried open the door to the…
Pack your imagination and your finest Victorian attire—on January 3, 1892, the literary legend John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, better known as J.R.R. Tolkien, is born in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State (modern-day South Africa). This unassuming day will mark the beginning…
Welcome, intrepid time travellers, to the bucolic charm of Westerham, Kent, on New Year’s Day, 1727. This quaint English village is about to witness the arrival of one of Britain’s most celebrated military figures, James Wolfe, the future hero of…
