There are 363 days remaining in the year as of January 2, according to the Gregorian calendar (364 in leap years).On National Science Fiction Day, fans are encouraged to celebrate science fiction as a genre, as well as its authors, history, and diverse media. Every year on January 2, millions of science fiction readers and viewers in the US read and watch their favourite works of science fiction.

On National Science Fiction Day, fans are encouraged to celebrate science fiction as a genre, as well as its authors, history, and diverse media. Every year on January 2, millions of science fiction readers and viewers in the US read and watch their favorite works of science fiction.

Events

Pre-1600

The Roman legions in Germania Superior decline to swear allegiance to Galba in the year 69. They rise up and appoint Vitellius as ruler.

The Alemanni invade the Roman Empire in 366 by massing across the frozen Rhine.

Mercurius becomes Pope John II in 533, becoming the first pope to change his name after ascending to the papacy.

1601–1900

The Emirate of Granada, the final Moorish bastion in Spain, is captured in 1492 during the Reconquista.

Amangkurat II of Mataram and his bodyguards kill the leader of the Trunajaya uprising in 1680, during the 1601–1900 period.

The Battle of the Assunpink Creek, which took place close to Trenton, New Jersey, in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War, saw American forces led by George Washington repel a British assault.

Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the US Constitution in 1788.

The Ohio Country's Big Bottom Massacre in 1791 launched the Northwest Indian War in North America.

Six engineers got together to form the British Institution of Civil Engineers in 1818; Thomas Telford would go on to serve as the organization's first president.

The Siege of Paysandu finishes in 1865 as Brazil and Colorado take control of Paysandu, Uruguay.

1900 - John Hay, a diplomat, and statesman from the United States, establishes the Open Door Policy to encourage trade with China.

Chicago Canal opens in 1900.

1901–Present

1920 - The US Department of Justice orders the second Palmer Raid, which leads to the arrest and detention of 6,000 alleged communists and anarchists.

The science fiction play R.U.R. by Czech author Karel apek had its world premiere in 1921 in a theatre in Hradec Králové.

1941 - During World War II, Cardiff Cathedral in Wales suffers significant damage from the Cardiff Blitz.

In the greatest espionage case in American history, the Duquesne Spy Ring case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) successfully prosecutes 33 members of a German spy ring led by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in 1942. Manila is taken by Japanese forces during World War II, giving them authority over the Philippines.

As Puerto Rico's first democratically elected governor, Luis Muoz Marn takes office in 1949.

India creates the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, its two highest civilian honours, in 1954.

1955 - José Antonio Remón Cantera, the president of Panama, is assassinated. His deputy, José Ramón Guizado, assumes the presidency but is swiftly removed when it is shown that he was involved in Cantera's death.

Launched by the Soviet Union in 1959, Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to orbit the Sun and get close to the Moon.

The Battle of Ap Bac is the Viet Cong's first significant victory during the Vietnam War in 1963.

1967: Ronald Reagan, a former movie star and future American president, takes the oath of office as governor of California.

66 spectators were killed in the 1971 Rangers-Celtic association football (soccer) game in the second Ibrox catastrophe.

In order to conserve fuel amid an OPEC embargo, President Richard Nixon of the United States passes legislation in 1974 reducing the top speed limit in the country from 65 mph to 55 mph.

Lalit Narayan Mishra, the minister of railways, is critically injured in a bomb attack that occurs at the launching of a new railway line in Samastipur, Bihar, India, in 1975.

Congress of the United States approves the Federal Rules of Evidence in 1975.

1976 - The Gale of January 1976, which caused coastal flooding over the southern North Sea coasts and affected nations from Ireland to Yugoslavia, starts. The storm is estimated to have killed at least 82 people and caused US$1.3 billion in damages.

1978 - In Multan, Pakistan, paramilitary troops opened fire on peacefully protesting employees on Muhammad Zia-ul-orders; Haq's this incident is known as the 1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills.

1981 - The "Yorkshire Ripper," serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, is apprehended in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, putting an end to one of the greatest police investigations in British history.

Condor Flugdienst Flight 3782 crashes in 1988, killing 16 people near Seferihisar, Turkey.

In 1991, Sharon Pratt Dixon is elected as the District of Columbia's first female mayor and the first African American woman to lead a significant metropolis.

1993 - Sri Lankan Civil War: 35 to 100 people are killed on the Jaffna Lagoon by the Sri Lanka Navy.

2004 - Stardust successfully passes by Comet Wild 2 and returns to Earth with samples.

Deaths

Pre-1600 

Emperor Yin of the Later Han, Liu Chengyou, reigned prior to 1600 in 951.

Su Fengji was a Chinese official and chancellor in 951.

William de St-Calais, Bishop of Durham and William II of England's principal advisor, was born in 1096.

Bertrand de Blanchefort, the sixth Grand Master of the Templars, was born in 1169. (b. c. 1109)

Theodora Komnene, Duchess of Austria and Andronikos Komnenos's daughter, was born in 1184.

Lodomer was the Archbishop of Esztergom in Hungary in 1298.

1601–1900

Salima Sultan Begum, the Mughal Empire's Empress, lived from 1601 to 1900. Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza, a Spanish mystic poet and martyred Catholic, died in 1614.

Italian composer and organist Domenico Zipoli was born in 1726. John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville, an English statesman, was born in 1763.

1850: Mexican attorney and 20th President Manuel de la Pea y Pea (1847)

Frederick William IV of Prussia was born in 1861, while English mathematician and astronomer George Biddell Airy was born in 1892.

Heinrich Reuß von Plauen, the Teutonic Order's Grand Master, was born in 1470.

1512 - Swedish politician Svante Nilsson 

1514 - William Smyth, a bishop and scholar in England 

Italian composer Francesco Canova da Milano was born in 1543. 

Italian painter and teacher Pontormo was born in 1557. 

General and diplomat James Longstreet was born in America in 1904.

French meteorologist Léon Teisserenc de Bort was born in 1913. Karl Goldmark, a Hungarian violinist and composer, was born in 1915.

French cyclist Léon Flameng was born in 1917.

French author Paul Adam was born in 1920.

English author and academic Sabine Baring-Gould was born in 1924.

1951 saw the birth of English suffragette Edith New.

1953 saw the founding of Gucci by Italian entrepreneur and fashion designer Guccio Gucci.

Paul Sauvé, a Canadian politician and attorney, became the 17th Premier of Quebec in 1960.

In 1963, American actor, singer, and director Dick Powell was born.

Actor Jack Carson, a Canadian-American, was born in 1963.

Actor Tex Ritter, born in 1974

Bangladeshi revolutionary leader Siraj Sikder was born in 1975. American pianist and composer Erroll Garner was born in 1977. American actress Una Merkel was born in 1986.

Indian writer and politician Harekrushna Mahatab became the first Chief Minister of Odisha in 1987.

1989 saw the emergence of Indian actor, director, and playwright Safdar Hashmi. 1990 saw the emergence of American actor Alan Hale Jr.

Roman Dmowski, a Polish politician and minister of foreign affairs, was born in 1939.

1941 saw the birth of Russian-American pianist and composer Mischa Levitzki.

Joe Darling, an Australian politician and cricketer, was born in 1946.

1950 saw the election of Irish-Australian politician James Dooley as New South Wales' 21st premier.

1951 saw the inauguration of William Campion as the 21st Governor of Western Australia.

1990 saw the election of Greek politician and historian Evangelos Averoff as Minister of National Defense.

Dixy Lee Ray, a biologist and politician from the United States who served as the 17th Governor of Washington in 1994; Pierre-Paul Schweitzer, a French lawyer and businessman.

Actress Nancy Kelly, born in 1995

1995: Siad Barre, a Somali general and politician who served as Somalia's third president

Rolf Liebermann, a Swiss-French composer and manager, was born in 1999.

German journalist and author Sebastian Haffner passed away in 1999.

American admiral Elmo Zumwalt died in 2000.

Author and translator Patrick O'Brian, who was born in 2000,

William P. Rogers, a lawyer and politician from the United States, was appointed as the 55th Secretary of State in 2001.

2005 saw the death of American geneticist and doctor Maclyn McCarty.

Filipino jurist and attorney Cecilia Muoz-Palma (born 1913) passed away in 2006

Danish-American actress Osa Massen (born 1914) passed away in 2006 

Australian-American engineer and academic A. Richard Newton passed away in 2007

American historian and author Elizabeth Fox-Genovese passed away in 2007

Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek, an Israeli-Hungarian politician, took office in 2007.

Scottish journalist and author George MacDonald Fraser passed away in 2008

Lee S. Dreyfus, an American politician, professor, and sailor, became the 40th governor of Wisconsin in 2008.

Danish poet and author Inger Christensen died in 2009

2009 saw the death of cricketer and businessman Dnyaneshwar Agashe.

Actress Anne Francis, who was born in 2011,

2011 saw the election of politician Bali Ram Bhagat as the 16th Governor of Rajasthan.

English actor Pete Postlethwaite was born in 2011

Academic and sociologist Gordon Hirabayashi, an American-Canadian, passed away in 2012

US actress and producer Silvana Gallardo was born in the year 2012.

In 2012, American entrepreneur and philanthropist William P. Carey created W. P. Carey.

Gerda Lerner, an Austrian-American historian, writer, and academic, passed away in 2013

Teresa Toraska, a Polish journalist and author, died in 2013.

Bernard Glasser, an American filmmaker, was active in 2014.

Author and screenwriter Elizabeth Jane Howard died in 2014 in England.

Tihomir Novakov, a Serbian-American professor and physicist, was born in 2015.

Indian politician and attorney Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away in 2016

Nimr al-Nimr, a Saudi Arabian cleric, passed away in 2016.

2016 saw the murder of Temixco, Morelos, Mexico, mayor Gisela Mota Ocampo.

French skier Jean Vuarnet, English art critic, novelist, and painter John Berger, and Portuguese actress Guida Maria were born in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

2018 saw the election of Thomas S. Monson as the 16th leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

2019: American musician Daryl Dragon

Academic and sociologist Gordon Hirabayashi, an American-Canadian, passed away in 2012

US actress and producer Silvana Gallardo was born in the year 2012.

In 2012, American entrepreneur and philanthropist William P. Carey created W. P. Carey.

Gerda Lerner, an Austrian-American historian, writer, and academic, passed away in 2013

Teresa Toraska, a Polish journalist and author, died in 2013.

Bernard Glasser, an American filmmaker, was active in 2014.

Author and screenwriter Elizabeth Jane Howard died in 2014 in England.

Tihomir Novakov, a Serbian-American professor and physicist, was born in 2015.

Indian politician and attorney Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away in 2016

2016 saw the death of American novelist and psychotherapist Frances Cress Welsing.

Nimr al-Nimr, a Saudi Arabian cleric, passed away in 2016.

2016 saw the murder of Temixco, Morelos, Mexico, mayor Gisela Mota Ocampo. 2017 saw the death of French ski racer Jean Vuarnet.

John Berger, an English novelist, painter, and art critic, died in 2017.

Academic and sociologist Gordon Hirabayashi, an American-Canadian, passed away in 2012

US actress and producer Silvana Gallardo was born in the year 2012.

In 2012, American entrepreneur and philanthropist William P. Carey created W. P. Carey.

Gerda Lerner, an Austrian-American historian, writer, and academic, passed away in 2013

Teresa Toraska, a Polish journalist and author, died in 2013.

Bernard Glasser, an American filmmaker, was active in 2014.

Author and screenwriter Elizabeth Jane Howard died in 2014 in England.

Tihomir Novakov, a Serbian-American professor and physicist, was born in 2015.

Indian politician and attorney Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away in 2016

2016 saw the death of American novelist and psychotherapist Frances Cress Welsing.

Nimr al-Nimr, a Saudi Arabian cleric, passed away in 2016.

2016 saw the murder of Temixco, Morelos, Mexico, mayor Gisela Mota Ocampo. 2017 saw the death of French ski racer Jean Vuarnet.

John Berger, an English novelist, painter, and art critic, died in 2017.

Guida Maria, a Portuguese actress, died in 2018

2018 saw the election of Thomas S. Monson as the 16th leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

2019: American musician Daryl Dragon

American actor and comedian Bob Einstein will turn 100 in 2019

Gene Okerlund, an American wrestler's announcer, in 2019; Richard Leakey, a Kenyan politician and palaeontologist, in 2022

Celebrations and Holidays

History Day (Haiti)

Day of Berchtold (Switzerland and Liechtenstein)

Celebration Day (Saint Kitts and Nevis)

Holiday for Christians: Basil the Great (Catholic Church and Church of England)

Thebes' Defenders

The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is observed on Sunday between January 2 and 5, with January 2 being the earliest day and January 5 being the latest. (Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, 1960)

Gregory the Great (Catholic Church)

Löhe, Johann Konrad Wilhelm (Lutheran Church)

Alexandria's Macarius

(Repose) Seraphim of Sarov (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Azariah Samuel Vedanayagam (Episcopal Church)

2 January (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Nyinlong (Bhutan) (Bhutan)

the start of the Blacks and Whites' Carnival, which runs through January 7. South of Colombia

the opening day of Riosucio's Carnival, which lasts until January 8 once every two years. (Riosucio)

This is Day Nine of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)

New Year's Day (Scotland), if it falls on a Sunday, is moved to January 3. New Year's Day (Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Montenegro, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine):

the kaapse lopse (Cape Town, South Africa)

Battlefield Victory Day (Cuba)