1. In 1861, North Carolina became the 11th state to secede from the Union, just three months before the start of the Civil War. The state provided more soldiers for the Confederate Army than any other southern state, and endured significant destruction and loss during the conflict.

2. In 1957, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. The speech came just a few weeks after the start of the Montgomery bus boycott, and emphasized the importance of nonviolent resistance in the struggle for racial equality.

3. On January 21, 1985, NC State University's men's basketball team defeated the University of North Carolina in a historic upset known as the "Cardiac Pack" game. NC State went on to capture the NCAA championship that year, cementing their place in North Carolina sports history.

4. In 2017, more than 80,000 people marched through downtown Raleigh in the Women's March on Raleigh, in solidarity with similar events taking place around the world. The march was part of a nationwide movement protesting the inauguration of President Donald Trump and advocating for women's rights.

5. January 21 is also National Hugging Day, a holiday created in 1986 to encourage people to embrace the healing power of hugs. While the holiday is not specific to North Carolina, it provides a great excuse for residents to spread some love and warmth during the cold winter months.