Mohawk Valley Almanac for January 2025
By Roger Chambers
Holidays in January 2025
January 1 New Year’s Day
January 7 Orthodox Christmas, Julian
January 6 Epiphany, Twelfth Night; Three Kings Day
January 13 Stephen Foster Memorial Day
January 16 Religious Freedom Days
January 20 Presidential Inauguration Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, observed.
January 22 National Sanctity of Human Life Day
Winter Activities
Cold mid-winter weather arrived just before Christmas with heavy snow fall, especially in Tug Hill and parts of the North Country. However, as we end December and into the New Year, expect warmer temperatures than usual with rain. What used to be a “January thaw” after several weeks of often sub-zero temperatures is appearing sooner after just a few days of severe cold.
Despite the effects the warmer weather may have on skiing and snowmobiling, indoor sports, especially ice hockey and basketball remain quite popular. The AHL Utica Comets started out poorly with record losing streak but have improved and still have strong support. Utica University Pioneers also provide high quality hockey. There are many other high school and college hockey teams in the area. And many follow the Syracuse Orange Basketball quite closely.
For those more into performing arts, there are the Players of Utica, the Rome Community Theater, and Remington Stables Theater in Ilion. Many schools present live theater productions as well. There are also occasional Broadway plays or other productions at the Stanley Theater in downtown Utica.
For music, there are a variety of folk, jazz, or classical concerts quite often. Almost every weekend has some musical program at schools, colleges, churches and arts centers like the Kirkland Art Center in Clinton or the Other Side in Utica or Unity Hall in Barneveld.
The only holiday after New Year’s Day is the observed third Monday of the month for the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. This year, as is sometimes the case, this coincides with Inauguration Day, both on January 20th. This will officially mark the beginning of the second Trump Administration. He is the only President since Grover Cleveland in the 19th century had two terms separated by a re-election loss.
Whatever the weather, try to get outside to enjoy a winter activity of choice, dependent on the weather. Or if you don’t
like the cold and snow, try a concert, theater production, or sporting event. Enjoy life. Longer days and warmer weather will be here soon than you think.
In the Night Skies
There are several conjunctions this month with the Moon and various planets. On the 1st, the crescent Moon appears in evening twilight to the west near Venus with Saturn in between them. On January 10th, the waxing gibbous Moon is in conjunction with a very bright Jupiter.
On the 13th, there is a conjunction with Mars and the Full Wolf Moon. This conjunction is rare with the Moon eclipsing Mars for about an hour, starting between 7:30 and 8:00 P.M. depending upon location. This should be visible in most of Eastern North America.
Rising and Setting Times of the Sun, Moon and Visible Planets on January 21, 2024
Sunrise 7:23 A.M. Sunset 5:00 P.M.
Moonrise Last Quarter Moonrise 12:09 A.M., E
Moonset 10:49 A.M., W
Mercury Rises 6:53 A.M., SE
Venus Sets 9:01 P.M., W
Mars Sets 7:34 A.M.
Jupiter Sets 4:08 A.M., NW
Saturn Sets 8:43 P.M., W
Phases of the Moon for January 2023
January 6 First Quarter Moon Rises 11;05 A.M., NE
January 13 Full Wolf Moon Rises 4:23 P.M.,NW
January 21 Last Quarter Moon Rises 12:09 A.M., E
Sets 5:22 P.M., SW
January 28 New Moon Rises 7:46 A.M. E
Sets 5:00 P.M., W
