January 27: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the remaining prisoners of Auschwitz-Birkenau, transforming the date into a global day of remembrance.
About January 27
January 27 carries weight as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the 1945 moment when the Soviet 322nd Rifle Division reached Auschwitz-Birkenau and freed its surviving inmates. The United Kingdom observes Holocaust Memorial Day on the same date, while Russia remembers the lifting of the 872-day Siege of Leningrad, which also concluded on this day in 1944 after one of the most harrowing blockades in history.
Long before those somber milestones, this date produced remarkable turning points. In 98, Trajan rose to become Roman emperor, launching a reign remembered for public works and military campaigns. An 1820 Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev reached the Antarctic coast, discovering the southernmost continent. Thomas Edison secured his incandescent lamp patent in 1880, and the Paris Peace Accords officially ended the Vietnam War in 1973.
Music also owes much to this date: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756, while Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason arrived in 1944. The day blends solemnity with celebration — a reminder that history rarely sorts itself into neat categories.
Holidays & Observances on January 27
- Day of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad (Russia)
- Liberation of the remaining inmates of Auschwitz-related observances: Holocaust Memorial Day (UK)
Fun & National Days on January 27
- International Port Wine Day — Pour a glass of fortified Portuguese wine and toast centuries of Douro Valley tradition.
- National Chocolate Cake Day — Bake or buy the richest chocolate cake you can find — no excuses, just dessert.
- National Geographic Day — Flip through iconic yellow-bordered magazines and marvel at the planet's wonders.
- Punch the Clock Day — Honor the daily grind by reflecting on work routines, past or present, with a wry smile.
- Speak Up and Succeed Day — Practice voicing your ideas confidently — today's bold sentence could spark tomorrow's opportunity.
- Thomas Crapper Day — Raise a tongue-in-cheek toast to the Victorian plumber who popularized the modern flush toilet.
- International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust
- National Plan for Vacation Day
- Vietnam Peace Day
- World Breast Pumping Day
On This Day in History
- 98 — Trajan ascended to the imperial throne after the death of his adoptive father Nerva, beginning a celebrated reign over Rome.
- 1302 — Dante Alighieri was condemned in absentia and banished from Florence, the exile that shaped his Divine Comedy.
- 1785 — The University of Georgia received its charter, becoming the first state-supported public university in the United States.
- 1820 — A Russian expedition under Bellingshausen and Lazarev approached the Antarctic coast, making the first confirmed sighting of the continent.
- 1880 — Thomas Edison was granted a patent for his incandescent lamp, a milestone in the electrification of everyday life.
- 1944 — The devastating 872-day Siege of Leningrad was finally lifted, ending one of World War II's longest and deadliest blockades.
- 1945 — Soviet forces from the 322nd Rifle Division liberated the remaining prisoners at Auschwitz-Birkenau, exposing the camp's horrors.
- 1967 — Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee perished when a fire engulfed their capsule during a launch test.
- 1967 — The United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom signed the Outer Space Treaty, barring nuclear weapons from orbit and beyond.
- 1973 — The Paris Peace Accords were signed, formally ending American involvement in the Vietnam War after years of conflict.
- 1980 — Six American diplomats secretly escaped Iran through a joint U.S.-Canadian operation known as the Canadian Caper.
- 2010 — Apple unveiled the iPad to the public, a device that would redefine tablet computing and mobile media consumption.
Famous Birthdays on January 27
- 1756 — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer whose symphonies, concertos, and operas remain pillars of Western classical music.
- 1832 — Lewis Carroll, English novelist and mathematician who penned Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a landmark of literary fantasy.
- 1850 — Samuel Gompers, English-American labor leader who founded the American Federation of Labor and shaped the U.S. labor movement.
- 1850 — Edward Smith, English sea captain who commanded the RMS Titanic on its doomed maiden voyage in 1912.
- 1859 — Wilhelm II, German Emperor whose aggressive foreign policy helped steer Europe toward the catastrophe of World War I.
- 1900 — Hyman G. Rickover, U.S. Navy admiral widely regarded as the father of the nuclear navy for his pioneering propulsion work.
- 1944 — Mairead Maguire, Northern Irish peace activist who co-founded a movement to end sectarian violence and won the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 1944 — Nick Mason, English drummer and founding member of Pink Floyd, whose rhythmic drive anchored the band for decades.
- 1948 — Mikhail Baryshnikov, Russian-American dancer and choreographer whose virtuosity made him one of the most celebrated ballet artists alive.
- 1955 — John Roberts, American jurist serving as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States, guiding the Supreme Court since 2005.