Month — January

by Hla Min

Updated : Aug 2025

Background

• It is the first month of the Gregorian Calendar.
• It is named after Janus, two-faced God to symbolizetwo tasks : bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new year
• It has 31 days.

Events

January 1

• New Year’s Day (Start of the New Year). For most people, it is a holiday. In most parts of the world, New Year’s Eve is celebrated on 31st December.
• Annual Soon Kyway at Panditarama (Shwe Taung Gone) by Ye Than (Winner Inn)

• Peasant’s Day in the Union of Burma. It was a holiday. It was moved to 2nd March by the Revolutionary Council.
• Sometimes : Lunar (Chinese) New Year
• Sometimes : Sar So Daw Nay

January 4

• Burma gained Independence on January 4, 1948 at 4:20AM
• Grapevine : Burma was given a choice: “January 4th or January 6th”
• In Lighter Vein : A British Official said, “We would have to get up early once on January 4, 1948. The Burmese will have to get up early January 4th of the following years.”
• Unsolved Mystery : Who chose 4:20AM? Why?

Third Monday in USA

• Martin Luther King’s Day

Birthdays

• Saya U Than Lwin (Eric Lwin, my cousin uncle, GBNF) celebrated his birthday on January 1st.

• Dr. Khin Kyi Nyunt (Cherry Tin Gyi, GBNF) and her elder Dr. Khin Tun (Peter Tin U, GBNF) celebrated their birthdays together on or around January 12. They offer requisites to the monks at Chan Myei Yeik Tha.

Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948

U Tin U, Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick San Pe), Dr. Pe Thein (Tom San Pe) and Bobby Tin rowed for RUBC against the Burmese Laung at the Independence Day Regatta.