1. Alabama became a state on January 1, 1818. Before then it was part of the Mississippi Territory.
2. The first Rose Bowl game was played on January 1, 1923, with the University of Alabama facing off against the University of Washington. Alabama won 20-19.
3. On January 1, 1956, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., officially ended after 381 days, resulting in the desegregation of Montgomery's bus system.
4. The first day of the year is also significant for many Alabamians as it is a day for both reflection and resolution setting. Many in the state attend church services or spend time with family while others take part in Polar Bear Plunges or New Year's Day parades.
5. In recent years, Alabama has hosted a number of popular New Year's Eve and Day events, including the MoonPie Drop in Mobile, the Limestone County Sheriff's Rodeo, and the UMS-Wright High School's New Year's Day Celebration, all of which attract visitors from near and far.