January 21
Updated November 6, 2026 · Edited by the JanuaryCalendar.com team
January 21 marks the execution of Louis XVI in 1793, the first meeting of Ireland's Dáil in 1919 and the death of Lenin in 1924. It is a public holiday in the Dominican Republic and Barbados, and in the US it is National Hugging Day and Squirrel Appreciation Day.
January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. 344 days remain in the year (345 in leap years). In 2027, January 21 falls on a Thursday.
- Day of year
- 21
- Days left
- 344 (345 in leap years)
- Zodiac sign
- Aquarius ♒︎
- Birthstone
- Garnet
- ISO week (2027)
- Week 3
- Weekday (2027)
- Thursday
Holidays and observances on January 21
- Public holiday Día de la Altagracia (Dominican Republic) — Honors Our Lady of Altagracia, the country's patron.
- Public holiday Errol Barrow Day (Barbados) — Honors Barbados' first prime minister, born January 21, 1920.
- Unofficial National Hugging Day (US) — Started in Michigan in 1986.
- Unofficial National Squirrel Appreciation Day (US) — An informal day celebrating squirrels.
- US federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on January 21 in 2030, 2036 (third Monday of January)
Events on January 21 in history
- 1793 – Former King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during the French Revolution.
- 1915 – The first Kiwanis club was founded in Detroit, Michigan.
- 1919 – Ireland's revolutionary parliament, the First Dáil, met in Dublin and adopted a Declaration of Independence.
- 1924 – Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet state, died near Moscow.
- 1954 – The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, was launched in Groton, Connecticut.
- 1968 – North Vietnamese forces began the siege of the US Marine base at Khe Sanh.
- 1976 – Concorde began commercial supersonic service with British Airways and Air France flights.
- 1977 – President Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders on his first full day in office.
- 2017 – The Women's March drew millions of protesters in Washington, D.C., and cities around the world.
Famous birthdays on January 21
- 1824 – Stonewall Jackson, Confederate general in the American Civil War
- 1829 – Oscar II, King of Sweden and of Norway
- 1905 – Christian Dior, French fashion designer
- 1924 – Benny Hill, English comedian
- 1940 – Jack Nicklaus, American golfer, winner of 18 majors
- 1941 – Plácido Domingo, Spanish operatic tenor
- 1953 – Paul Allen, American co-founder of Microsoft
- 1956 – Geena Davis, American Oscar-winning actress
- 1963 – Hakeem Olajuwon, Nigerian-American basketball Hall of Famer
What day is January 21?
Frequently asked questions
What happened on January 21, 1793?
Louis XVI, the deposed king of France, was executed by guillotine in Paris during the French Revolution. His wife, Marie Antoinette, was executed later that year.
Is January 21 a public holiday anywhere?
Yes. The Dominican Republic honors its patron, Our Lady of Altagracia, and Barbados observes Errol Barrow Day for its first prime minister. Both are public holidays.
What is National Hugging Day?
National Hugging Day is an informal US observance on January 21 that encourages people to hug family and friends. It began in Michigan in 1986.
What day of the week is January 21, 2027?
January 21, 2027 is a Thursday. In 2028 it falls on a Friday.
What zodiac sign is January 21?
People born on January 21 are Aquarians (January 20 – February 18) in Western astrology.