January 12
Updated November 6, 2026 · Edited by the JanuaryCalendar.com team
January 12 is National Youth Day in India, honoring the 1863 birth of Swami Vivekananda, and Zanzibar Revolution Day in Tanzania. The date also saw the New York Jets' upset win in Super Bowl III in 1969 and the devastating Haiti earthquake of 2010.
January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. 353 days remain in the year (354 in leap years). In 2027, January 12 falls on a Tuesday.
- Day of year
- 12
- Days left
- 353 (354 in leap years)
- Zodiac sign
- Capricorn ♑︎
- Birthstone
- Garnet
- ISO week (2027)
- Week 2
- Weekday (2027)
- Tuesday
Holidays and observances on January 12
- Official National Youth Day (India) — Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda; observed since 1985.
- Public holiday Zanzibar Revolution Day (Tanzania) — Marks the 1964 revolution that overthrew the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Events on January 12 in history
- 1895 – The National Trust was founded in Britain to protect places of historic interest and natural beauty.
- 1904 – Henry Ford set a land speed record of about 91 mph driving on the frozen surface of Lake St. Clair in Michigan.
- 1932 – Hattie Caraway of Arkansas became the first woman elected to the US Senate, winning a special election.
- 1964 – The Zanzibar Revolution overthrew the sultan; months later Zanzibar united with Tanganyika to form what became Tanzania.
- 1966 – The Batman television series starring Adam West premiered on ABC.
- 1969 – The New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts 16–7 in Super Bowl III, the first win for an AFL team.
- 2005 – NASA launched the Deep Impact spacecraft, which sent an impactor crashing into comet Tempel 1 that July.
- 2010 – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, causing catastrophic loss of life and damage.
Famous birthdays on January 12
- 1628 – Charles Perrault, French author of classic fairy tales
- 1856 – John Singer Sargent, American portrait painter
- 1863 – Swami Vivekananda, Indian Hindu monk and philosopher
- 1876 – Jack London, American author of The Call of the Wild
- 1944 – Joe Frazier, Boxer who beat Muhammad Ali in 1971
- 1949 – Haruki Murakami, Japanese novelist
- 1964 – Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
- 1974 – Melanie Chisholm, English singer, member of the Spice Girls
What day is January 12?
Frequently asked questions
Why is January 12 National Youth Day in India?
It honors the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1863. The Government of India declared the day in 1984, and it has been observed since 1985.
What is Zanzibar Revolution Day?
It is a public holiday in Tanzania on January 12, marking the 1964 revolution that overthrew the Sultan of Zanzibar. Zanzibar united with Tanganyika later that year to form what is now Tanzania.
Who won Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969?
The New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts 16–7 in Miami. Quarterback Joe Namath had publicly guaranteed the win, and it was the first Super Bowl victory for an AFL team.
What day of the week is January 12, 2027?
January 12, 2027 is a Tuesday. In 2028 it falls on a Wednesday.
What zodiac sign is January 12?
People born on January 12 are Capricorns (December 22 – January 19) in Western astrology.