Aprilis

Aprilis or mensis Aprilis (April) was the second month of the classical Roman calendar, following Martius (March) and preceding Maius (May). In the oldest known Roman calendar, Aprilis had come second in a ten-month year that began with Martius, until reforms instituted a twelve-month year starting with Ianuarius (January) and Februarius (February).

April had 29 days on calendars of the Roman Republic, with a day added to the month during further reform in the mid-40s BC resulting in the Julian calendar.

April was marked by a series of festivals devoted to aspects of rural life, since it was a busy month for farmers. As Rome became more urbanized, the significance of some ceremonies expanded, notably the Parilia, an archaic pastoral festival celebrated as the "birthday" (dies natalis) or founding day of Rome. The month was generally preoccupied with deities who were female or ambiguous in gender, opening with the Feast of Venus on the Kalends.