January 13
Updated November 6, 2026 · Edited by the JanuaryCalendar.com team
January 13 usually brings Lohri bonfires in Punjab and northern India, and the US marks Stephen Foster Memorial Day and Korean American Day. In history, it is the day Émile Zola published 'J'accuse' in 1898 and Johnny Cash played Folsom Prison in 1968.
January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. 352 days remain in the year (353 in leap years). In 2027, January 13 falls on a Wednesday.
- Day of year
- 13
- Days left
- 352 (353 in leap years)
- Zodiac sign
- Capricorn ♑︎
- Birthstone
- Garnet
- ISO week (2027)
- Week 2
- Weekday (2027)
- Wednesday
Holidays and observances on January 13
- Cultural Lohri (North India, especially Punjab) — Winter bonfire festival, usually held on January 13, the eve of Makar Sankranti.
- Official Korean American Day (US) — Marks the arrival of the first Korean immigrants in Honolulu on January 13, 1903.
- Official Stephen Foster Memorial Day (US) — Honors the composer of 'Old Folks at Home' and 'Camptown Races,' who died on January 13, 1864.
- Astronomy Full moon (Wolf Moon) on January 13 in 2025, 2036 (Eastern Time)
Events on January 13 in history
- 1847 – The Treaty of Cahuenga, signed by John C. Frémont and Andrés Pico, ended fighting in California during the Mexican–American War.
- 1898 – Émile Zola published his open letter 'J'accuse' in the Paris newspaper L'Aurore, defending Captain Alfred Dreyfus.
- 1910 – Lee de Forest broadcast a live Metropolitan Opera performance featuring Enrico Caruso, one of the first public radio broadcasts.
- 1935 – Voters in the Saar Basin, then governed by the League of Nations, chose overwhelmingly to rejoin Germany.
- 1968 – Johnny Cash recorded his live album At Folsom Prison at Folsom State Prison in California.
- 1990 – L. Douglas Wilder took office in Virginia as the first elected African American governor in US history.
- 1993 – Countries began signing the Chemical Weapons Convention in Paris, a treaty banning the development and use of chemical weapons.
- 2018 – A false ballistic missile alert was sent to phones across Hawaii and took 38 minutes to be officially corrected.
Famous birthdays on January 13
- 1832 – Horatio Alger, American author of rags-to-riches novels
- 1926 – Michael Bond, English author who created Paddington Bear
- 1949 – Rakesh Sharma, First Indian citizen to travel to space
- 1961 – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, American actress, star of Seinfeld and Veep
- 1966 – Patrick Dempsey, American actor and racing driver
- 1969 – Stephen Hendry, Scottish snooker player, seven-time world champion
- 1977 – Orlando Bloom, English actor
- 1990 – Liam Hemsworth, Australian actor
What day is January 13?
Frequently asked questions
What is Lohri?
Lohri is a winter festival celebrated mainly in Punjab and other parts of northern India, usually on January 13. Families gather around bonfires with songs and seasonal foods made with sesame and jaggery on the night before Makar Sankranti.
Why is January 13 Korean American Day?
On January 13, 1903, the first group of Korean immigrants to the United States arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii. Congress has passed resolutions recognizing the day.
What happened on January 13, 1898?
French novelist Émile Zola published 'J'accuse' in the newspaper L'Aurore. The open letter accused the French army and government of covering up the wrongful conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus.
What day of the week is January 13, 2027?
January 13, 2027 is a Wednesday. In 2028 it falls on a Thursday.
What zodiac sign is January 13?
People born on January 13 are Capricorns (December 22 – January 19) in Western astrology.