April
April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. April begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Aries and ends in the sign of Taurus. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of Pisces and ends in the constellation of Aries. The name is derived from the Latin aprilis, either from the Latin word aperire which means "to open", probably referring to growing plants in spring, or from the Etruscan name Apru for Aphrodite. April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar and had 29 days. Julius Caesar's calendar reform in 45 BCE resulted in April having 30 days and becoming the fourth month, as the year now began in January. In old Japanese calendar, the month is called Uzuki (卯月).
April in poetry Poets identify April with the end of winter, but they don't necessarily agree on what that means: Adage:
:April showers bring May flowers In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer found only cause for celebration: - Whan that April with his showres soote (that is, sweet)
:The droughte of March hath perced to the roote,
:And bathed every veine in swich licour,
:Of which vertu engendred is the flowr; (ll. 1-4)
::Modernized for The Norton Anthology of English Literature- T. S. Eliot, on the other hand, opened The Waste Land with an ironic glance at Chaucer:
- April is the cruellest month, breeding
:Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
:Memory and desire, stirring
:Dull roots with spring rain.
To what purpose, April, do you return again?
:Beauty is not enough.
:You can no longer quiet me with the redness
:Of little leaves opening stickily.
:I know what I know.
:The sun is hot on my neck as I observe
:The spikes of the crocus.
:The smell of the earth is good.
:It is apparent that there is no death.
:But what does that signify?
:Not only under ground are the brains of men
:Eaten by maggots.
:Life in itself
:Is nothing,
:An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.
:It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,
:April
:Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.
The Tragic Month of April April also is noticeable for its close connection with warfare. An unusually large number of wars have started or ended in Aprils, and many military leaders (ex. Hitler) have been born in April. Just a few wars that started/ended in April are, American Revolution Started (Paul Reveres Ride: April 18-19 1775)
American Civil War (Started April 1861 Ended April 1865, thus "Across 5 Aprils")
World War Two (Germany Surrenders in April, 1945) Other Tragedies that have occurred in the month of April include President Abraham Lincoln's Assassination (April 14,1865)1906 San Francisco Earthquake (April 18, 1906)The sinking of the RMS Titanic (April 14-15,1912)Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated (April 4,1968)Super Tornado Outbreak (April 3-4,1974)Chornobyl nuclear accident (April 26,1986)The bloody end to the Branch Dividan siege in Waco, Texas (April 19,1993)The Oklahoma City Bombing (April 19, 1995)Columbine High School shooting (April 20,1999)
TriviaApril begins on the same day of week as July in all years and also January in leap years.April's flower is the daisy and sweet pea.April's birthstone is the diamond.
April Events
Monthlong events in AprilChocolate Eaters MonthGrass MonthPets Are Wonderful MonthUh-huh MonthCancer Control MonthChild Abuse Prevention MonthFreedom Shrine MonthInternational Guitar MonthKeep America Beautiful MonthListening Awareness MonthMathematics Education MonthMulticultural Communication MonthNational Anxiety MonthNational Garden MonthNational Home Improvement MonthNational Humor MonthNational Occupational Therapy MonthNational Welding MonthPrevention of Cruelty to Animals MonthSports Eye Safety MonthBoscov's Did-You-Boscov-Today MonthPhilatelic Societies MonthVD Awareness MonthNational Food MonthStress Awareness MonthAlcohol Awareness MonthHoly Humor MonthInternational Amateur Radio MonthInternational Twit Award MonthMonth of the Young ChildNational Florida Tomato MonthMulticultural Communication MonthNational Knuckles Down MonthNational Sexually Transmitted Diseases Education and Awareness MonthNational Woodworking MonthSea Cadet MonthThai Heritage MonthSports Eye Safety MonthCommunity Services Month (California)Listening Awareness MonthAutism Awareness MonthRick Boehm Awareness Month
Weeklong events in April 1st Week in April Medic Alert WeekCherry Blossom FestivalPublicity Stunt WeekNational Birthparents WeekWeek of the Young ChildCruelest Month Week (Fairy)Straw Hat WeekNational Bake Week (begins 1st Mon)Consider Christianity WeekNational Reading a Road Map WeekHate Week 2nd Week in April Be Kind to Animals WeekMasters Golf TournamentNational Medical Laboratory WeekPrivate Property Week (10th-16th)National Library WeekHarmony WeekNational Garden WeekTV Turn-Off WeekNational Guitar WeekNational Building Safety WeekNational Home Safety Week 3rd Week in April Library Forgiveness WeekNational Police WeekLefty Awareness WeekBoys and Girls Club WeekAstronomy WeekNational Coin WeekBike Safety WeekNational Bubblegum WeekPan American WeekNational Week of the OceanNational Crime Victims’ Rights WeekNational Volunteer Week Toonik Tyme (Aboriginal)Traditional Inuit games Last Week in April Forest WeekNational Lingerie WeekCanada-US Goodwill WeekBig Brothers/Sisters Appreciation WeekConsumer Protection WeekNational TV-Free WeekJewish Heritage WeekGrange WeekKeep Amerca Beautiful WeekNational YMCA WeekProfessional Secretaries WeekNational Give-A-Sample WeekSky Awareness WeekIntergenerational WeekReading Is Fun WeekWeek of the Young ChildEgg Salad WeekTeacher Appreciation Week (begins Last Mon) A Week in April Astronomy Week (determined by 1st Quarter Moon)
April Movable Daily Holidays 1st Sunday Daylight Saving Time begins; turn your clock ahead at 2:00 a.m.Budoha Day (Hawaii)Wesak (Buddha's Birthday)Set-Your Clock-Forward-Day
1st SaturdaySaturday Market Day (Oregon)
1st Saturday before 5thTax Saturday (UK)
1st ThursdayGlarus Festival (Switzerland)
1st FridayStudent Government Day (Massachusetts)
Friday after 1stArbor Day (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai; Arizona)
2nd FridayAudubon Day
3rd Sunday & MondaySechselauten (Six Ringing Festival; Switzerland)
3rd MondayPatriot's Day (Maine, Massachusetts)Boston Marathon
Thursday between 19th & 26thFirst Day of Summer (Iceland)
Saturday nearest St. George's Day (23rd)Peppercorn Day (Bermuda)
Monday nearest Feast Day of St. George (23rd)St. George's Day (Newfoundland)
Sunday after 1st full moon after vernal equinox following PassoverLambri (Bright Day; Greece)
3rd MondayPatriots' Day (Maine, Massachusetts)
4th MondayFast Day (New Hampshire)
4th ThursdayTake Our Daughters to Work Day
4th WeekendJust Pray No weekend
Last MondayConfederate Memorial Day (Alabama, Mississippi)
Last FridayArbor DayBird Day
Wednesday of Last Full WeekProfessional Secretaries Day
April Indeterminate Holidays Full Moon Day of 6th Buddhist month (@ Apr/May) Vesak
Sun enters AriesSolar New Year (Southeast Asia)aka Thingyan (Burma)aka Songkran (Thailand)
10th through 15th Day of 2nd lunar monthParo Tsechu (Bhutan)
During planting season (@ Apr/May)Tyi Wara (Mali)
Early April to late July (every 4 years)Summer Olympics begin
Late April or MayAlp Aufzug (Switzerland)
Before 1st rainfall (@ Apr/May)Bobo Masquerade (Burkina Faso)
Sometime in AprilWorld Champioinship Cow Chip Throwing ContestPalm Sunday - ChristianPalm Sunday - Armenian ChristianGOOD FRIDAY - ChristianEaster - ChristianPesach-Passover (Jewish)
April Daily Holidays
April 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
See also Historical anniversaries
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