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The 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century is upon us

Milestone won’t be back for another 100 years
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Jan. 21 marks the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century, according to some. (Black Press Media file photo)

If you turn 21 today, you can celebrate more than just your “champagne birthday.”

Jan. 21 is the 21st day, of the 21st year of the 21st century – maybe.

If you subscribe to the belief that the calendar began with year 1 – then 2001 was the first day of the new century and today marks the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century.

If however, you believe the first year was recorded as year 0, then 2,000 years had passed at the end of 1999 and a new century started in 2000 – making 2021 the 22nd year of this century.

Either way, people took to social media Thursday to share their incredulity at the rare alignment of numbers.

The next time a milestone of this kind comes around? January 22, 2122. This rare numeric moment comes at a unique moment in history – notably the COVID-19 pandemic and the first full day for new U.S. President Joe Biden.

Information in this story has been corrected from a previous version.

READ ALSO: 2020 headlines: A timeline of COVID-19 in Greater Victoria and across the nation


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