Everything comes into focus on June 29th each year when we recognize National Camera Day. The day commemorates photographs, the camera, and their invention. A camera is an irreplaceable tool used to record and replicate memories, events, and people/places. Before the invention of the camera, the only resource to document a vision was a painting. Capturing an image of a person or place in a drawing took time and skill. Very few people can perfectly draw the likeness of someone, let alone capture the essence of an event.
The power of a camera provided many with a simple, inexpensive, and fast solution. George Eastman, also known as “The Father of Photography,” brought the camera to the masses. While he did not invent the camera, he did develop many additions improving the use, ease, and production of the camera. His developments made the camera widely available to homes around the world.
While the first cameras were large and bulky, each later design evolved until some cameras were as small as a pen. Today’s digital cameras have many features and variations, making them appealing to people of all ages for personal and professional use. The portable and easy-to-use features not only allow us to take photos quickly, but we can also edit them on the fly. Smartphones with built-in cameras include features that allow us to share photos instantly, too.
Taking photos has become so easy. According to Business Insider, in 2017, we took over 1.2 trillion digital photos! From a large boxy camera to one that fits in our pocket, cameras have come a long way.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CAMERA DAY
Whether photography is a hobby or your profession, celebrate the day by taking photos. Snap a picture of something or someone you enjoy and cherish the memory. But taking pictures isn’t the only way to celebrate.
During National Photography Month in May, focus your attention on sharpening your skills. Master the art of composition or learn how to use that fancy camera you bought. The entire month is dedicated to photography.
How you choose to participate is entirely up to you. While the tools used in photography have changed since its inception some 170+ years ago, the fascination it generates has not stopped. In fact, the more the tools advance, the more we seem to cherish a quality photograph.
Searching archives for a likeness a photographer took of a person or a place years ago that is familiar to us today will leave us awed. Many of us grab our phones to snap a quick photo of some of the strangest things – a delicate leaf in a puddle, an old penny or a frozen bubble. We capture moments in time and collect elements of our lives from the everyday to those landmark events.
Take a class to hone your skills. Learn to preserve your photos or visit a museum to see images of the masters. How will you spend the month? Use #NationalPhotographyMonth to share on social media.
Every year on January 1st, Polar Bear Plunge Day encourages people to take a dip in cold, freezing waters. It’s also a day for participants to kick off the New Year by raising money for local charities. The day is also known as Polar Bear Swim Day.
Have you ever dived into a swimming pool or lake, only to find the water too cold? It’s not a very pleasant experience. However, thousands of people every year intentionally plunge into icy waters. In some areas, the water is as cold as 34 degrees. Many of these brave souls do it just for fun. Others do it to raise money for charity.
Some even say there are health benefits for taking the plunge into cold water. Some of these benefits include:
Boosts the immune system
Activates the endorphins and provides a natural high
Improves circulation
Burns calories
Reduces stress
Provides an opportunity to socialize and make new friends
Despite the health benefits, there is a risk of hypothermia. To help prevent this from happening, swimmers should not remove their clothes until just before they jump into the water. They should also wear shoes so that the snow doesn’t stick to their feet. This also prevents ice from cutting or scraping the feet. It’s also recommended to only stay in the water for a few minutes. Once the swimmers are out of the water, they should dry off and get dressed immediately.
POLAR PLUNGE DAY HISTORY
Peter Pantages is credited for starting the Polar Bear Swim. Pantages, a Greek immigrant to Canada, swam in the English Bay all year round. The English Bay is located northwest of British Columbia. On January 1, 1920, Pantages encouraged a few of his buddies to take a dip in the frigid Vancouver waters with him. The group became known as the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club. Pantages died in 1971. However, the tradition he began one New Year’s Day lives on. Today, thousands of people take part in part in Polar Bear Plunges around the world.
HOW TO OBSERVE #PolarBearPlungeDay
The best way to observe this day is to find an event in your area. You can also form your own event and use it as a fundraiser for a local charity. Simply grab some brave friends and family members on New Year’s Day and take a dip into the nearest lake or river. No matter how or where you participate, remember to be safe and smart about it. After taking the plunge, share your experience on social media with #PolarBearPlungeDay.
Nearly the entire world recognizes New Year’s Day on January 1st. It’s also one of the most celebrated holidays of the year.
Celebrations will begin in the Pacific Ocean with Samoa celebrating the New Year before the rest of the world. The latest stroke of midnight will occur in the middle of the Pacific Ocean near Baker Island, which is halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
The new year has been celebrated for millennia. The earliest record of new year’s celebrations occurred during Babylonian times. However, January 1st wasn’t always the designated day. For example, the first new moon after the vernal equinox ushered in the new year at one time. These festivities occurred in Martius (March), the first month in the early Roman calendar, which only had ten months.
King Pompilius later added the months Januarius (named for Janus, the pagan god of gates, doors and beginnings) and Februarius bringing the calendar to 12 months. It was Julius Caesar who created the Julian calendar, which most closely resembles the Gregorian calendar a majority of the world follows today.
Celebrating the first day of the year in the appropriately named month of January, Romans made sacrifices to Janus, giving gifts and general revelry. With his two faces, the god Janus was able to look toward the past and forward to the future.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NewYearsDay
Traditions around the world:
Kiss at midnight the one person you hope to keep kissing the rest of the year.
Making noise, either in the form of fireworks, ringing bells, horns, blasting, or pistol shots are traditional around the world.
In Holland, they toast to the new year with spiced wine, wassail in England, or champagne in the United States.
Resolutions are not a modern tradition. The Babylonians made commitments to return borrowed objects and to pay old debts.
For me New Years Day is about renewal. I spend my time reflecting on how lucky I am and looking forward to the new adventures and growth. It’s time to update, plan, envision, and bring order to everthing I know about for the year to come.
I try to plan for those unexpected situations as well. Money, work, birthdays, and new surprises both good and bad. It’s easier to have better reactions if you plan ahead. Nothings fool proof but, how I deal with it helps set the tone for the experience.
As the gateway to the new year, January is a month of new beginnings, reflection, and resilience. Named for the Roman god Janus, the deity of doors, gates, and transitions (who is depicted with two faces looking to the past and the future), January perfectly embodies this spirit of looking back and moving forward.
Season and Weather
In the Northern Hemisphere, January is typically the heart of winter, with cold temperatures, shorter days, and potential for snow, ice, and frost. Average temperatures in regions like North America and Europe can range from below freezing to mild, depending on location—think blustery winds and cozy indoor vibes. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere experiences summer, with warmer weather, longer daylight, and opportunities for outdoor activities like beach outings. Global weather patterns can include polar vortex events in the north or monsoons in some tropical areas.
January encourages a blend of outdoor winter fun and indoor coziness, especially with New Year’s resolutions motivating fitness and self-improvement. Popular activities include:
Outdoor: Skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, building snowmen, or having snowball fights in snowy areas. Indoor: Baking cookies, reading books, hosting game nights, or trying hot chocolate recipes. Seasonal: Starting fitness routines, decluttering homes, or planning travel. In warmer climates, hiking, picnics, or beach visits are common.
January is a major month in the sports calendar:
· American Football: The climax of the NFL season with the ** playoffs**, leading to the Super Bowl in early February. · Soccer: The midway point of the European football season, with domestic leagues and cups in full swing. · Tennis: The beginning of the Grand Slam season with the Australian Open in Melbourne.
January is full of holidays, observances, and awareness days. Notable ones include: January 1: New Year’s Day (a worldwide celebration of the new year). Epiphany (a Christian holiday commemorating the visit of the Three Kings) falls on January 6. In the United States, the third Monday of January (January 20, 2025) is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which honors the civil rights leader. January 26 marks Australia Day and India’s Republic Day. Other fun or awareness days include National Bird Day (January 5), Houseplant Appreciation Day (January 10), and International Hot and Spicy Food Day (January 16).
Birthstones, Flowers, and Symbols Birthstone: Garnet, symbolizing protection, friendship, and trust. It’s a deep red gem believed to bring good health and vitality. Flower: Carnation (representing love and fascination) or snowdrop (symbolizing hope and renewal). Symbols: The month is associated with the Roman god Janus (two-faced deity of beginnings). Zodiac signs are Capricorn (December 22–January 19, earthy and ambitious) and Aquarius (January 20–February 18, innovative and humanitarian).
Symbols & Significance
· Birthstone: Garnet, a deep red stone symbolizing protection, friendship, trust, and enduring connections. · Birth Flower: The Carnation (symbolizing love, fascination, and distinction) and the Snowdrop (symbolizing hope, purity, and the triumph of life over winter). · Zodiac Signs: · Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): Ambitious, disciplined, and practical. · Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): Progressive, original, independent, and humanitarian.
Famous Birthdays Many influential figures share January birthdays. Here are some notable ones:
Elvis Presley David Bowie Martin Luther King Jr. Muhammad Ali Benjamin Franklin Oprah Winfrey Michelle Obama J.R.R. Tolkien Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales Virginia Woolf Justin Timberlake
Feel like Shopping?
January is a shopper’s sweet spot, with post-holiday clearance sales offering deep discounts on winter clothing, bedding and linens (classic “white sales”), fitness gear, TVs, beauty products, and home essentials like cookware. To maximize value, skip new cars (few incentives), late-season winter sports equipment, and big furniture or mattresses, which see better deals around Presidents’ Day in February. Shop smart this month for real savings without the regret.
