# Significance of Jan. 24 in France? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 24, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817 "2008-01-24T14:51:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/1 "2008-01-24T14:51:07Z")
Our city hall is flying the French flag today. Is this a day of any particular importance in France? Couldn’t find anything on Wiki. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/2 "2008-01-24T15:27:18Z")
Maybe they’re off by six months and ten days (the other way) for **Bastille Day**? > **[Bastille Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day)** > > Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In French, it is formally called the Fête nationale française (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}French: \[fɛt nɑsjɔnal fʁɑ̃sɛːz\]; 'French National Celebration'); legally it is known as le 14 jui... Or they’re off an even six months for Utah’s **Pioneer day**? > **[Pioneer Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Day_(Utah))** > > Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the American state of Utah, with some celebrations taking place in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois, and other locations in the eastern United States. Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and o In addition to... Winston Churchill’s Death? Ernest Borgnine’s birth? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/3 "2008-01-24T15:28:21Z")
Is a French dignitary visiting? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/4 "2008-01-24T15:30:59Z")
The Feast Day of **St. Francis de Sales**? > **[Francis de Sales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Francis_de_Sales)** > > Artists > Clergy > Monarchs BTW, I found this interesting: > [@](#): > > François de Sales is recognized as exemplary in the Church of England, where his memoria is also on January 24, and in the Church in Wales, when his memorial is moved to January 23, due to a conflict with St Cadoc. "I’m sorry, Francis, St. Cadoc is already scheduled for that day, so we’re bumping you. Why? There are plenty of saints who share feast days. Since there are more than 366 saints, in fact, there necessarioly have to be. Why do it in this case? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/5 "2008-01-24T15:48:24Z")
Aha! It’s Pierre Beaumarchais’ Birthday! > **[Pierre de Baumarchais, France, playwright, Barber of... January 24 in History...](https://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1732/january_24_1732_40575.html)** > > Today in History and Famous Birthdays. Find out what happened and who was born on this day in history. Events and birthdays for each day of the year. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/6 "2008-01-24T15:48:35Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] The Feast Day of **St. Francis de Sales**? > **[Francis de Sales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Francis_de_Sales)** > > Artists > Clergy > Monarchs BTW, I found this interesting: "I’m sorry, Francis, St. Cadoc is already scheduled for that day, so we’re bumping you. Why? There are plenty of saints who share feast days. Since there are more than 366 saints, in fact, there necessarioly have to be. Why do it in this case? [/QUOTE] St. Cadoc must have had a better agent… ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/7 "2008-01-24T16:03:58Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Why? There are plenty of saints who share feast days. Since there are more than 366 saints, in fact, there necessarioly have to be. Why do it in this case? [/QUOTE] French saint versus Welsh saint? I can’t figure out why the Welsh saint wins … in Wales … ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/8 "2008-01-24T16:08:13Z")
You’re all wrong. It’s MY birthday! Mighty nice of them to notice. Where’s my cake? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/9 "2008-01-24T16:25:51Z")
Are you sure it’s not the flag of the City of Cleveland? It’s quite similar to the French flag. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/10 "2008-01-24T16:50:18Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] Are you sure it’s not the flag of the City of Cleveland? It’s quite similar to the French flag. [/QUOTE] You’re right, but I looked carefully. The city seal is missing from the white stripe. It’s definitely the French flag, but I’ve heard of no visiting French dignitary. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/11 "2008-01-24T18:23:57Z")
Here’s a French [page](http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_janvier) listing all the significant events of the 24th of January. I don’t see anything of real importance, except the invention in 1922 of the _Esquimau glacé_. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/12 "2008-01-24T18:34:12Z")
Just looked, and the _Plain Dealer_ and the City of Cleveland’s websites have nothing about any French-oriented stuff going on. It is a puzzlement, _ne c’est pas?_ ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/13 "2008-01-24T18:36:28Z")
Here’s the output of the BSD calendar program: > [@](#): > > Jan 24 John Belushi is born in Chicago, 1949 > Jan 24 DG Nova introduced, 1969 > Jan 24 Eskimo Pie patented by Christian Nelson, 1922 > Jan 24 Gold discovered in California at Sutter’s Mill, 1848 > Jan 24 Economic Liberation Day in Togo > Jan 24 Warren Zevon is born, 1947 > Jan 24 Aujourd’hui, c’est la St(e) François. > Jan 24 S’il tonne en janvier, > Monte les barriques au grenier. > Jan 25 Robert Burns born, 1759 > Jan 25 Virginia Woolf born, 1882 > Jan 25 W. Somerset Maugham born, 1874 > Jan 25 Conversion of St Paul > Jan 25 First U.S. meeting of ALGOL definition committee, 1958 > Jan 25 Passing of Gandalf > Jan 25\* Parashat Yitro > Jan 25 Bob Dylan plays the second “Hurricane” benefit, in the Astrodome, 1978 > Jan 25 N’oubliez pas les Morgane ! > Jan 25 Le jour de saint Paul, > L’hiver se rompt le col. > Jan 25 Татьянин день. Студенческий праздник Most of them are rather obscure, but one or two may be what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/14 "2008-01-24T18:42:15Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Our city hall is flying the French flag today. Is this a day of any particular importance in France? Couldn’t find anything on Wiki. [/QUOTE] Now I’m curious. Call them and find out! My guess would be, like acsenray said, that they’re flying the [flag of Cleveland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Cleveland%2C_Ohio.svg). Maybe someone messed up and grabbed the wrong flag. Or else the seal came off in the wash. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/15 "2008-01-24T18:42:28Z")
Have you tried calling and asking? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/16 "2008-01-24T18:44:16Z")
Are you sure it isn’t a Freedom Flag? ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/17 "2008-01-24T19:53:49Z")
It’s just possible the flag has been raised in support of [today’s strike](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7207193.stm). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/18 "2008-02-07T16:16:44Z")
Never heard back from the Mayor’s Action Center when I emailed; the French flag is no longer flying, in any event. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/19 "2008-02-07T16:27:01Z")
French invasion of the American Heartland thwarted by covert action! Tris ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Jinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Captain\_Jinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Jinks)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817/20 "2008-02-07T17:28:37Z")
[QUOTE=dolphinboy] St. Cadoc must have had a better agent… [/QUOTE] He shared agents with St. Jude (The Obscure) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-jan-24-in-france/434817.md?page=2)