The month of April, the fourth month of the year, was named either from Aprillis, the Roman derivation of Aphrodite, the Greek name for Venus, or from the Latin verb “aperire”, meaning “to open” . The month begins with a day and ends with a night that are linked in many lands with age-old customs.
The first day is April Fools’ Day or All Fools’ Day, which is a day at one time popular for pranks and harmless practical jokes. The origin of this day is not positively known. Records show that it has been going on at least since 1564, when Jan 1 was re-established in France as the first day of the year. The change confused many people, but in time it led to the fun of exchanging false greetings for the first of the year on the old day. April 1 coincides with the Zodiac sign of the fish, so the French call it “Fooling the April Fish Day”. A one-time prank of the Scots was “hunting the gowk”, which sent the victim on false errands; anyone who fell for this prank was called a gowk, or cuckoo.
The last hours of the month are observed as Walpurgis Night in some parts of Europe. It is the custom in Scandinavian countries and in the mountains of Germany to light huge bonfires and hold gay events on the night of April 30 in remembrance of an old folkway that defended man and beast from witches and demons. In Sweden and Finland, university students start wearing their white velvet caps on that night and join together to sing spring songs. In some parts of Switzerland, a bachelor, if he observes old traditions, may plant a pine tree on the last day of the month at the home of a girl he admires.
The sweet pea and the daisy are the flowers for the month.
The gem for the month is the diamond.
Poets use April to mean the end of winter. For example: “April showers bring May flowers.”
…from Gregory, Ruth W. Anniversaries and Holidays, Third Edition;. Chicago: American Library Association, 1975.
The month of April is also celebrated as:
- National Humor Month
- International Guitar Month
- Keep America Beautiful Month
- Lawn and Garden Month
- National Poetry Month
- National Pecan Month
- National Welding Month
- Records and Information Management Month
- Stress Awareness Month
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- National Florida Tomato Month
- National BLT Sandwich Month
- National Soft Pretzel Month
- National Soyfoods Month
- National Grilled Cheese Month
- National Garlic Month
Passover starts on the 22nd of April and ends on the evening of April 30th.
April 28th is the anniversary of Maryland becoming the 7th state.
April 30th is the anniversary of Louisiana becoming the 18th state.