January 20th is also known as Cheese Lovers Day as well as Penguin Awareness Day.
Welcome to the twentieth day of the year! We’re gradually getting through the year, but we still have another 345 days remaining in 2025.
Find out the history about January 20 by checking out these interesting facts and historical events, including many advances in equal rights.
Did you know that on this day in 1982, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a bat during a performance? At the time, he believed it was a toy.
Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about January 20th in history!
Events
What memorable events happened on January 20 in history? Keep reading to find out!
2009
The USA’s first African-American President, Barack Obama, conducted his first address.
“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America.”
1996
NASA mission STS-72 landed at the Kennedy Space Center after eight days in space.
Mission STS-72, which was flown by the Endeavour Space Shuttle, was filmed by a PBS camera crew, with the footage going into a documentary called Astronauts. In addition, the game of Go was played for the first time in space between US astronaut Daniel T. Barry and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata.
1992
Air Inter Flight 148 crashed in the Vosges Mountains in France while circling to land at Strasbourg Airport.
The crash site was found more than four hours later by journalists. By the time the emergency response teams arrived, 87 people had died, with just nine survivors. Later, it was discovered that the crash was caused by a pilot’s error rather than a mechanical failure.
1945
Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first and last US President to serve four terms.
Roosevelt was inaugurated with very little fanfare in what was described as a “homey little ceremony on the back porch of the White House.” The 22nd Amendment was brought in after Roosevelt’s presidency to prevent US Presidents from serving more than two terms.
Famous Births
If today’s your birthday, you share this special day with Buzz Aldrin! Here are other famous people born on this day.
1987
Evan Peters
American
Actor
Age:
37 years old
Born In:
Missouri, USA
1971
Gary Barlow
English
Singer
Age:
53 years old
Born In:
England, UK
1930
Buzz Aldrin
American
Astronaut
Age:
94 years old
Born In:
New Jersey, USA
1946
David Lynch
American
Filmmaker
Age:
78 years old
Born In:
Montana, USA
Famous Deaths
Unfortunately, January 20th has also been a day where we’ve had to say some goodbyes over the years…
1929
1993
Audrey Hepburn
British
Actress
1929
1993
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress born on May 4, 1929. She died on this day in 1993, at age 63 in Tolochenaz, Vaud, Switzerland.
Died On:
Jan 20, 1993 (Age 63)
Died In:
Vaud, Switzerland
1947
2022
Meat Loaf
American
Singer
1947
2022
Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf was an American singer born on September 27, 1947. He died on this day in 2022, at age 74 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Died On:
Jan 20, 2022 (Age 74)
Died In:
Tennessee, USA
Quotes
Of all of the quotes said on this day, these are the most notable ones said on Jan 20th throughout history.
2000
The best evaluation I can make of a player is to look in his eyes and see how scared they are.
Michael Jordan
American Basketball Player
1961
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
John F. Kennedy
American President
Special Holidays
Looking for a reason to celebrate? Well, here’s a few! These unique holidays are sure to bring some enjoyment to your day.
Penguin Awareness Day
As the seas warm and the ice caps melt, life for penguins becomes increasingly difficult. That’s why we celebrate Penguin Awareness Day, so that people around the world can stop and think about ways to help protect these cute-looking creatures!
National Cheese Lovers Day
Today is the perfect day to eat as much cheese as you like without guilt. Cheese omelet for breakfast? Cheesy toasties for lunch? Baked halloumi for dinner? No problem! We hope you have a “gouda” time on this special day… and yeah, we know that was a bit “cheesy.”
THe Fact Site’s
Fun Fact Of The Day
Berries are simple fruits stemming from one flower. This means that pineapples, bananas, watermelon, pumpkins, and avocados are berries.
Birthday & Zodiac
Those of you who were born on this day share the Aquarius star sign.
Aquarius is represented by the water-bearer and is the eleventh sign in the zodiac. Anyone who was born between January 20 and February 18 falls into this astrological sign.
All those born in January have the Garnet birthstone. The garnet is a vibrant and meaningful gemstone, its name comes from a sacred fruit, the pomegranate.
People born on this day were likely conceived on or around April 29th in the previous year.
A baby that is conceived on this day will likely be born around October 13th, 2025.
