January 2: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On January 2, 1492, the Emirate of Granada fell, ending seven centuries of Moorish rule in Spain and completing the Reconquista.
About January 2
January 2 is a day of fresh chapters and bold ambitions—fitting for Capricorn season. In 1492, the Reconquista reached its climax as Granada, the final Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrendered. Centuries earlier, in 533, a man named Mercurius became Pope John II, setting a precedent by adopting a brand-new name upon his elevation—a tradition every pope has followed since.
The date also brims with democratic firsts. Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788. In 1949, Luis Muñoz Marín took office as Puerto Rico's first democratically elected governor. And in 1991, Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as Washington, D.C.'s first woman mayor—and the first African American woman to lead a major American city.
Looking skyward, the Soviet Union launched Luna 1 on this day in 1959, making it the first spacecraft to reach the Moon's vicinity and orbit the Sun. And in a literary milestone, 1921 saw the world premiere of Karel Čapek's R.U.R., the Czech play that gave the world the word "robot." Small wonder January 2 is celebrated as National Science Fiction Day.
Holidays & Observances on January 2
- Ancestry Day (Haiti)
- Berchtold's Day (Switzerland)
- The Day after New Year's Day (New Zealand)
- Kaapse Klopse (Cape Town, South Africa)
- The first day of Blacks and Whites' Carnival, celebrated until January 7 (Colombia)
- The ninth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
- Bank holiday (Scotland)
Fun & National Days on January 2
- National Science Fiction Day — Queue up your favorite sci-fi film or novel—today honors the genre's wildest imaginings about the future.
- Happy Mew Year for Cats Day — Spoil your feline companion with an extra treat to ring in their very own new year celebration.
- World Introvert Day — Honor the quiet ones by enjoying some peaceful solitude—no social plans required.
- Swiss Cheese Day — Stack a sandwich high with nutty, holey Swiss and savor every deliciously cheesy bite.
- National Cream Puff Day — Indulge in a delicate, cream-filled pastry to satisfy your sweet tooth in the most elegant way possible.
- National Buffet Day — Grab a plate and pile it high—today is the perfect excuse to sample a little bit of everything.
- 55 MPH Speed Limit Day
- National Motivation and Inspiration Day
- National Personal Trainer Awareness Day
- National Run it Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes it Day
On This Day in History
- 533 — Mercurius takes the papal throne as John II, becoming the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation.
- 1492 — The Emirate of Granada surrenders, ending Moorish rule in Spain and completing the centuries-long Reconquista.
- 1776 — Empress Maria Theresa of Austria formally abolishes torture across all Habsburg-ruled territories, including Austria and Bohemia.
- 1777 — George Washington's forces repel a British assault led by General Cornwallis at the Battle of Assunpink Creek near Trenton.
- 1788 — Georgia ratifies the U.S. Constitution, becoming the fourth state to join the newly formed American republic.
- 1818 — Six engineers found the British Institution of Civil Engineers in London; Thomas Telford would later serve as its first president.
- 1900 — U.S. diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy, advocating equal trading rights for all nations doing business with China.
- 1921 — Karel Čapek's science fiction play R.U.R. premieres in Hradec Králové, introducing the word "robot" to the world.
- 1959 — The Soviet Union launches Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the Moon's vicinity and the first human-made object to orbit the Sun.
- 1967 — Former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan is sworn in as Governor of California, launching a political career that would reach the White House.
- 1991 — Sharon Pratt Dixon becomes the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city when she takes office in Washington, D.C.
Famous Birthdays on January 2
- 1873 — Thérèse of Lisieux, French Carmelite nun and Catholic saint whose spiritual autobiography became one of the most widely read religious works of the 20th century.
- 1909 — Barry Goldwater, U.S. senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee whose conservative philosophy reshaped the modern American political landscape.
- 1936 — Roger Miller, American singer-songwriter behind whimsical country hits like "King of the Road," earning multiple Grammy Awards and a Tony.
- 1938 — David Bailey, English fashion photographer whose iconic 1960s portraits of celebrities defined the swinging London cultural scene.
- 1938 — Lynn Conway, Pioneering American computer scientist and electrical engineer whose microchip design innovations transformed modern computing.
- 1968 — Cuba Gooding, Jr., American actor who won an Academy Award for his exuberant performance in Jerry Maguire and starred in Boyz n the Hood.
- 1969 — Christy Turlington, American supermodel and global fashion icon who became one of the most recognized faces of the 1990s.
- 1971 — Taye Diggs, American actor and singer known for Broadway's Rent and films like How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
- 1983 — Kate Bosworth, American actress who broke through in Blue Crush and has built a diverse film career spanning drama and thriller.
- 1993 — Bryson Tiller, American singer and rapper whose blend of R&B and hip-hop on albums like Trapsoul earned him widespread acclaim.