April 1999 Cincinnati Tornado

April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. It is the first of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the second of five months to have a length of less than 31 days.

April is commonly associated with the season of autumn in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, and spring in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the seasonal equivalent to October in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

History

The Romans gave this month the Latin name '' Aprilis''"April" in '' Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 1, p. 497. but the derivation of this name is uncertain. The traditional etymology is from the verb ''aperire'', "to open", in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open", which is supported by comparison with the modern Greek use of άνοιξη (''ánixi'') (opening) for spring. Since some of the Roman months were named in honor of divinities, and as April was sacred to the goddess Venus, her Veneralia being held on the first day, it has been suggested that Aprilis was originally her month Aphrilis, from her equivalent Greek goddess name Aphrodite (''Aphros''), or from the Etruscan name ''Apru''. Jacob Grimm suggests the name of a hypothetical god or hero, ''Aper'' or ''Aprus''.

April was the second month of the earliest Roman calendar, before '' Ianuarius'' and ''Februarius'' were added by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC. It became the fourth month of the calendar year (the year when twelve months are displayed in order) during the time of the decemvirs about 450 BC, when it also was given 29 days. The 30th day was added during the reform of the calendar undertaken by Julius Caesar in the mid-40s BC, which produced the Julian calendar.

The Anglo-Saxons called April ''ēastre-monaþ''. The Venerable Bede says in '' The Reckoning of Time'' that this month ''ēastre'' is the root of the word Easter. He further states that the month was named after a goddess '' Eostre'' whose feast was in that month. It is also attested by Einhard in his work, Vita Karoli Magni.

St George's day is the twenty-third of the month; and St Mark's Eve, with its superstition that the ghosts of those who are doomed to die within the year will be seen to pass into the church, falls on the twenty-fourth.

In China the symbolic of the earth by the emperor and princes of the blood took place in their third month, which frequently corresponds to April. In Finnish April is ''huhtikuu'', meaning '' slash-and-burn moon'', when gymnosperms for beat and burn clearing of farmland were felled.

In Slovene, the most established traditional name is ''mali traven'', meaning the month when plants start growing. It was first written in 1466 in the Škofja Loka manuscript.

The month Aprilis had 30 days; Numa Pompilius made it 29 days long; finally Julius Caesar’s calendar reform made it again 30 days long, which was not changed in the calendar revision of Augustus Caesar in 8 BC. Additionally in the Spanish colony, Las Islas Filipinas (now known as the Philippines), the month Aprilis had a significant meaning to the life of the natives as it was associated to the influence of the Chinese during the Spanish colonial period. The importance of this aspect to the lives of the natives was formerly associated to an event called "Abril na Ikaw" as it is closely linked to the famous trader, April Yu.

In Ancient Rome, the festival of Cerealia was held for seven days from mid-to-late April, but exact dates are uncertain. Feriae Latinae was also held in April, with the date varying. Other ancient Roman observances include Veneralia (April 1), Megalesia (April 10–16), Fordicidia (April 15), Parilia (April 21), Vinalia Urbana, Robigalia, and Serapia were celebrated on (April 25). Floralia was held April 27 during the Republican era, or April 28 on the Julian calendar, and lasted until May 3. However, these dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.

The Lyrids meteor shower appears on April 16 – April 26 each year, with the peak generally occurring on April 22. Eta Aquariids meteor shower also appears in April. It is visible from about April 21 to about May 20 each year with peak activity on or around May 6. The Pi Puppids appear on April 23, but only in years around the parent comet's perihelion date. The Virginids also shower at various dates in April.

The "Days of April" (''journées d'avril'') is a name assigned in French history to a series of insurrections at Lyons, Paris and elsewhere, against the government of Louis Philippe in 1834, which led to violent repressive measures, and to a famous trial known as the ''procès d'avril''.

April symbols

April's birthstone is the diamond.
*The birth flower is typically listed as either the common daisy ''(Bellis perennis)'' or the sweet pea.
* The zodiac signs for the month of April are Aries (until April 19) and Taurus (April 20 onwards).. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.

April observances

''This list does not necessarily imply either official status nor general observance.''

Month-long observances

*In Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox tradition, April is the Month of the Resurrection of the Lord. April and March are the months in which is celebrated the moveable Feast of Easter Sunday.
* National Pet Month ( United Kingdom)

United States

* Arab American Heritage Month
*Autism Awareness Month
* Cancer Control Month
* Community College Awareness Month
* Confederate History Month ( Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia)
* Donate Life Month
* Financial Literacy Month
*Jazz Appreciation Month
* Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
* Month of the Military Child
* National Poetry Month
*National Poetry Writing Month
* Occupational Therapy Month
* National Prevent Child Abuse Month
*National Volunteer Month
* Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month
*Rosacea Awareness Month
* Sexual Assault Awareness Month

United States Food months

*Fresh Florida Tomato Month
*National Food Month
*National Grilled Cheese Month
*National Pecan Month
*National Soft Pretzel Month
*National Soyfoods Month

Non-Gregorian observances: 2021

''(All Baha'i, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.)''
*List of observances set by the Bahá'í calendar
*List of observances set by the Chinese calendar
*List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar
*List of observances set by the Islamic calendar
*List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar

Movable observances, 2021 dates

*Youth Homelessness Matters Day
*Public holidays in Kiribati, National Health Day (Kiribati): April 6
*Head and Neck Cancer Alliance#Oral.2C Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (United States): April 13–19
*List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation#Annual special weeks recognized by presidential proclamation, National Park Week (United States): April 18–26
*Crime Victims' Rights Week (United States): April 19–25
*National Volunteer Week: April 19–25
*European Immunization Week: April 20–26
*Day of Silence (United States): April 24
*Pay it forward#Other contributions, Pay It Forward Day: April 28 (International observance)
*Denim Day: April 29 (International observance)
*Day of Dialogue (United States)
*Vaccination Week In The Americas
*See: List of movable Western Christian observances
*See: List of movable Eastern Christian observances

First Wednesday: April 1

*Childhelp#Community outreach, National Day of Hope (United States)

First Saturday: April 4

*Ulcinj Municipality Day (Ulcinj, Montenegro)

First Sunday: April 5

*Daylight saving time ends (Australia and New Zealand)
*Geologists Day (former Soviet Union countries)
*Kanamara Matsuri (Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Kawasaki, Japan)
*Opening Day (United States)

First full week: April 5–11

*National Library Week (United States)
**National Library Week, National Library Workers Day (United States) (Tuesday of National Library week, April 4)
**Bookmobile#National Bookmobile Day, National Bookmobile Day (Wednesday of National Library week, April 5)
*American Public Health Association#National Public Health Week, National Public Health Week (United States)
*Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International#Events, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (United States)

= Second Wednesday: April 8

=
*International Day of Pink

= Second Thursday: April 9

=
*National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (United States)

= Second Friday of April: April 10

=
*Public holidays in Liberia, Fast and Prayer Day (Liberia)
*Public holidays in Russia#Popular holidays which are not public holidays, Air Force Day (Russia)
*List of festivals and events in Kamakura#April, Kamakura Matsuri at Tsurugaoka Hachiman (Kamakura, Japan), lasts until third Sunday.

Second Sunday: April 12

*Children's Day#Peru, Children's Day (Peru)

Week of April 14: April 12–18

*Pan American Day, Pan-American Week (United States)

Third Wednesday: April 15

*Administrative Professionals' Day (New Zealand)

Third Thursday: April 16

*National High Five Day (United States)

Third Saturday: April 18

*Record Store Day (International observance)

Last full week of April: April 19–25

*Administrative Professionals' Day, Administrative Professionals Week (Malaysia, North America)
*World Immunization Week

Week of April 23: April 19–25

*Canada Book Day, Canada Book Week (Canada)

Week of the New Moon: April 19–25

*National Dark-Sky Week (United States)

Third Monday: April 20

*Patriots' Day (Massachusetts, Maine, United States)
*Queen's Official Birthday#Other countries and territories, Queen's Official Birthday (Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha)
*Sechseläuten (Zürich, Switzerland)

= Wednesday of last full week of April: April 22

=
*Administrative Professionals' Day (Hong Kong, North America)

First Thursday after April 18: April 23

*First Day of Summer (Iceland)

= Fourth Thursday: April 23

=
*Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day (United States)

= Last Friday: April 24

=
*Arbor Day (United States)
*Día de la Chupina (Rosario, Argentina)

Last Friday in April to first Sunday in May: April 24-May 3

*Arbor Day, Arbour Week in Ontario

= Last Saturday: April 25

=
*Children's Day (Colombia)
*Rebuilding Together#National Rebuilding Day, National Rebuilding Day (United States)
*The Fragrance Foundation#National Sense of Smell Day, National Sense of Smell Day (United States)
*World Tai Chi and Qigong Day

= Last Sunday: April 26

=
*Flag Day (Åland, Finland)
*Public holidays in Turkmenistan, Turkmen Racing Horse Festival (Turkmenistan)

= April 27 (moves to April 26 if April 27 is on a Sunday): April 27

=
*Koningsdag (Netherlands)

= Last Monday: April 27

=
*Confederate Memorial Day ( Alabama, Georgia (U.S. state), and Mississippi, United States)

= Last Wednesday: April 29

=
*International Noise Awareness Day

Fixed observances

*April 1
**April Fools' Day
**Arbor Day#Tanzania, Arbor Day (Tanzania)
**Civil Service Day (Thailand)
**Public holidays in Cyprus, Cyprus National Day (Cyprus)
**Edible Book Day
**Fossil Fools Day
**Kha b-Nisan (Assyrian people)
**National Science Day (Thailand), National Civil Service Day (Thailand)
**Odisha Day (Odisha, India)
**Start of National Prostate Health Month#Related observances, Testicular Cancer Awareness week (United States), April 1–7
**Season for Nonviolence January 30 – April 4
*April 2
**International Children's Book Day (International observance)
**Malvinas Day (Argentina)
**List of food days#April, National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (United States)
**Thai Heritage Conservation Day (Thailand)
**Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day (Belarus)
**World Autism Awareness Day (International observance)
*April 3
*April 4
**Children's Day (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
**Independence Day (Senegal)
**International observance#April, International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
**Peace Day (Angola)
*April 5
**Children's Day (Palestinian territories)
**List of food days#April, National Caramel Day (United States)
**Sikmogil (South Korea)
*April 6
**Public holidays in Thailand, Chakri Day (Thailand)
**National Beer Day (United Kingdom)
**New Beer's Eve (United States)
**Tartan Day (United States & Canada)
*April 7
**Flag Day (Slovenia)
**Genocide Memorial Day (Rwanda), and its related observance:
***International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide (United Nations)
**Motherhood and Beauty Day (Armenia)
**National Beer Day (United States)
**Thomas Roy#List of days, No Housework Day
**Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume Day (Tanzania)
**Public holidays in Mozambique, Women's Day (Mozambique)
**World Health Day (International observance)
*April 8
**Buddha's Birthday (Japan only, other countries follow different calendars)
**Feast of the Third Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law, Feast of the First Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema)
**International Romani Day (International observance)
**Thomas Roy#List of days, Trading Cards for Grown-ups Day
*April 9
**Anniversary of the German Invasion of Denmark (Denmark)
**Baghdad Liberation Day (Iraqi Kurdistan)
**Constitution Day (Kosovo)
**Day of National Unity (Georgia)
**Day of the Finnish Language (Finland)
**Day of Valor or ''Araw ng Kagitingan'' (Philippines)
**Feast of the Second Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema)
**List of food days#Global or International, International Banshtai Tsai Day
**Martyr's Day (Tunisia)
**National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (United States)
**Ásatrú holidays#The Troth, Remembrance for Haakon Sigurdsson (The Troth)
**Vimy Ridge Day (Canada)
*April 10
**Day of the Builder (Azerbaijan)
**Feast of the Third Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema)
**Siblings Day (International observance)
*April 11
**Juan Santamaría Day, anniversary of his death in the Second Battle of Rivas. (Costa Rica)
**International Louie Louie Day
**List of food days#April, National Cheese Fondue Day (United States)
**World Parkinson's Day
*April 12
**Children's Day (Bolivia and Haiti)
**Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin:
***Cosmonautics Day (Russia)
***International Day of Human Space Flight
***Yuri's Night (International observance)
**Halifax Day (North Carolina)
**List of food days#April, National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day (United States)
**National Redemption Day (Liberia)
**Thomas Roy#List of days, Walk on Your Wild Side Day
*April 13
**Jefferson's Birthday (United States)
**Coma Patients' Day, Katyn Memorial Day (Poland)
**Teachers' Day#By country, Teacher's Day (Ecuador)
**First day of Thingyan (Myanmar) (April 13–16)
**Remembrance days in Slovakia, Unfairly Prosecuted Persons Day (Slovakia)
*April 14
**Okinawan festivals and observances, ʔabusibaree (Okinawa Islands, Japan)
**B. R. Ambedkar, Ambedkar Jayanti (India)
**Black Day (South Korea)
**Commemoration of Anfal Genocide Against the Kurds (Iraqi Kurdistan)
**Dhivehi Language Day (Maldives)
**Day of Mologa (Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia)
**Day of the Georgian language (Georgia (country))
**Emancipation Day, Season of Emancipation (April 14 to August 23) (Barbados)
**N'Ko Alphabet Day (Mande languages, Mande speakers)
**Pohela Boishakh (Bangladesh)
**Pana Sankranti (Odisha, India)
**Puthandu (Tamils) (India, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka)
**Second day of Songkran (Thailand) (Thailand)
**Pan American Day (several countries in the Americas)
**The first day of Takayama Festival, Takayama Spring Festival (Takayama, Gifu, Japan)
**Vaisakh (Punjab (region)), (India and Pakistan)
**Youth Day (Angola)
*April 15
**Day of the Sun (North Korea).
**Hillsborough disaster#Memorials, Hillsborough Disaster Memorial (Liverpool, England)
**Jackie Robinson Day (United States)
**Pohela Boishakh (West Bengal, India) (Note: celebrated on April 14 in Bangladesh)
**Last day of Songkran (Thailand) (Thailand)
**Tax Day, the official deadline for filing an individual Tax return (United States), tax return (or requesting an extension). (United States, Philippines)
**Universal Day of Culture
**World Art Day
*April 16
**Birthday of José de Diego (Puerto Rico, United States)
**Birthday of Queen Margrethe II (Denmark)
**Emancipation Day (Washington, D.C., United States)
**Foursquare Day (International observance)
**Memorial Day for the Victims of the Holocaust (Hungary)
**List of awareness days#April, National Healthcare Decisions Day (United States)
**Remembrance of Chemical Attack on Balisan and Sheikh Wasan (Iraqi Kurdistan)
**World Voice Day
*April 17
**Thomas Roy#List of days, Blah Blah Blah Day
**Evacuation Day (Syria)
**FAO Day (Iraq)
**Flag Day (American Samoa)
**Malbec World Day
**List of food days#April, National Cheeseball Day (United States)
**List of food days#Italy, National Espresso Day (Italy)
**Public holidays in Gabon, Women's Day (Gabon)
**World Hemophilia Day
*April 18
**Anniversary of the Victory over the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of the Ice, 1242 (Russia)
**Army Day (Iran)
**Coma Patients' Day (Poland)
**Día del Amigo, Friend's Day (Brazil)
**Independence Day (Zimbabwe)
**International Day For Monuments and Sites
**Invention Day (Japan)
**Thomas Roy#List of days, Pet Owner's Independence Day
*April 19
**Army Day (Brazil)
**Beginning of the Independence Movement (Venezuela)
**History of lysergic acid diethylamide#"Bicycle Day", Bicycle Day
**Dutch-American Friendship Day (United States)
**Holocaust Remembrance Day (Poland)
**Indian Day (Brazil)
**King Mswati III's birthday (Eswatini)
**Landing of the 33 Patriots Day (Uruguay)
**List of food days#April, National Garlic Day (United States)
**List of food days#April, National Rice Ball Day (United States)
**Primrose Day (United Kingdom)
*April 20
**420 (cannabis culture) (International)
**UN Chinese Language Day (United Nations)
*April 21
**Muster (Texas A&M University)#A. and M. Day, A&M Day (Texas A&M University)
**Civil Services of India#Civil Services Day, Civil Service Day (India)
**Public holidays in Russia#Regional public holidays, Day of Local Self-Government (Russia)
**Grounation Day (Rastafari movement)
**Public holidays in Mexico#Civic holidays, Heroic Defense of Veracruz (Mexico)
**Public holidays in North Korea, Kang Pan-sok's Birthday (North Korea)
**Kartini Day (Indonesia)
**Public holidays in Russia, Local Self Government Day (Russia)
**Arbor day#Kenya, National Tree Planting Day (Kenya)
**San Jacinto Day ( Texas)
**Queen's Official Birthday#Other countries and territories, Queen's Official Birthday (Falkland Islands)
**Public holidays in Brazil, Tiradentes' Day (Brazil)
**Vietnam Book Day (Vietnam)
*April 22
**Discovery Day (Brazil)
**Earth Day (International observance) and its related observance:
***International Mother Earth Day
**Holocaust Memorial Days, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Serbia)
**List of food days#April, National Jelly Bean Day (United States)
*April 23
**Castile and León Day (Castile and León, Spain)
**German Apples Day, German Beer Day (Germany)
**Conch Republic, Independence Day (Conch Republic, Key West, Florida)
**International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day
**Khongjom Day (Manipur, India)
**National Sovereignty and Children's Day (Turkey and Northern Cyprus)
**Navy Day (China)
**St George's Day (England) and its related observances:
***Canada Book Day (Canada)
***St George's Day#Catalonia, La Diada de Sant Jordi (Catalonia, Spain)
***World Book Day
**UN English Language Day (United Nations)
*April 24
**Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (Armenia)
**Concord Day (Niger)
**Children's Day (Zambia)
**Democracy Day (Nepal)
**Fashion Revolution Day
**Flag Day (Ireland)
**International Sculpture Day
**Kapyong Day (Australia)
**Labour Day#Bangladesh, Labour Safety Day (Bangladesh)
**National Panchayati Raj Day (India)
**List of food days#April, National Pigs in a Blanket Day (United States)
**Republic Day (The Gambia)
**St Mark's Eve (Western Christianity)
**World Day for Laboratory Animals
*April 25
**Anniversary of the First Cabinet of Kurdish Government (Iraqi Kurdistan)
**Anzac Day (Australia, New Zealand)
**Arbor Day (Germany)
**DNA Day
**Feast of Saint Mark (Western Christianity)
**Flag Day (Faroe Islands)
**Public holidays in Eswatini, Flag Day (Eswatini)
**Freedom Day (Portugal)
**Liberation Day (Italy)
**Rogation Day, Major Rogation (Western Christianity)
**Military Foundation Day (North Korea)
**List of food days#April, National Zucchini Bread Day (United States)
**Parental Alienation Awareness Day
**Red Hat Society Day
**Sinai Liberation Day (Egypt)
**World Malaria Day
*April 26
**Chernobyl disaster related observances:
***International Duties Memorial Day, Memorial Day of Radiation Accidents and Catastrophes (Russia)
***Day of Remembrance of the Chernobyl tragedy (Belarus)
**Confederate Memorial Day ( Florida, United States)
**Hug A Friend Day
**Thomas Roy#List of days, Hug an Australian Day
**Lesbian Visibility Day
**List of food days#April, National Pretzel Day (United States)
**Old Permic alphabet, Old Permic Alphabet Day
**Union Day (Tanzania)
**World Intellectual Property Day
*April 27
**Public holidays in Russia, Day of Russian Parliamentarism (Russia)
**Day of the Uprising Against the Occupying Forces (Slovenia)
**Flag Day (Moldova)
**Freedom Day (South Africa)
***UnFreedom Day
**Independence Day (Sierra Leone)
**Public holidays in Togo, Independence Day (Togo)
**National Day (Mayotte)
**National Day (Sierra Leone)
**List of food days#April, National Prime Rib Day (United States)
**Flag flying days in Finland, National Veterans' Day (Finland)
*April 28
**Lawyers' Day (Orissa, India)
**Mujahideen Victory Day (Afghanistan)
**National Day (Sardinia, Italy)
**National Heroes Day (Barbados), National Heroes Day (Barbados)
**Restoration of Sovereignty Day (Japan)
**Workers' Memorial Day, Workers' Memorial Day and World Day for Safety and Health at Work (International observances, international)
***National Day of Mourning (Canada), National Day of Mourning (Canada)
*April 29
**Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (United Nations)
**International Dance Day (UNESCO)
**Public holidays in Denmark#Other special days, Princess Bedike's Birthday (Denmark)
**List of food days#April, National Shrimp Scampi Day (United States)
**Shōwa Day, traditionally the start of the Golden Week (Japan), Golden Week holiday period, which is April 29 and May 3–5. (Japan)
*April 30
**Armed Forces Day (Georgia (country))
**Flag flying days in Sweden, Birthday of the King (Sweden)
**Battle of Camarón, Camarón Day (French Foreign Legion)
**Children's Day (Mexico)
**Public holidays in Thailand, Consumer Protection Day (Thailand)
**Honesty Day (United States)
**International Jazz Day (UNESCO)
**Martyrs' Day#Pakistan, Martyr's Day (Pakistan)
**May Eve, the eve of the first day of summer in the Northern hemisphere ''(see May 1)'':
***Beltane begins at sunset in the Northern hemisphere, Samhain begins at sunset in the Southern hemisphere. (Neo-Druidism, Neo-Druidic Wheel of the Year)
***Carodejnice (Czech Republic and Slovakia)
***Walpurgis Night (Central and Northern Europe)
**Persian Gulf naming dispute#National Persian Gulf Day, National Persian Gulf Day (Iran)
**Reunification Day (Vietnam)
**Public holidays in Russia#Popular holidays which are not public holidays, Russian State Fire Service Day (Russia)
**Tax return (Canada), Tax Day (Canada)
**Teachers' Day (Paraguay)

See also

* Germanic calendar
* List of historical anniversaries
* Sinking of the RMS Titanic, Sinking of the RMS ''Titanic''

References

External links

National Arbor Day Foundation

{{Authority control

April,
Months, *04