April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, the fifth in the early Julian and the first month to have the length of 30 days. And it is the spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere.
April is commonly associated with the season of spring in parts of the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the seasonal equivalent to October in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa.
The Romans gave this month the Latin name Aprilis 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 ploughing 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.
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 appropriated 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's birthstone is the diamond.The birth flower is typically listed as either the 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).This list does not necessarily imply either official status nor general observance.
In Catholic tradition, April is the Month of the Resurrection of the Lord.National Pet MonthArab American Heritage MonthAutism Awareness Month (United States)Cancer Control MonthConfederate History Month (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia)Donate Life MonthFinancial Literacy MonthJazz Appreciation MonthMathematics Awareness MonthNational Poetry MonthNational Poetry Writing MonthNational Prevent Child Abuse MonthNational Volunteer MonthParkinson's Disease Awareness MonthSexual Assault Awareness MonthWomen's Empowerment MonthAmavasya (Hinduism) Sizdah Be-dar (Iranian calendar) – April 2 Qingming Festival (Chinese calendar) – April 4Cold Food Festival (Chinese calendar) – April 5–7Mopin (Galo people) – April 5Cheti Chand (Sindhi people) – April 8Gudi Padwa (Hinduism) – April 8Hekate's Deipnon (Attic calendar, Hellenism) – April 8 Feast of Glory – (Bahai calendar) – April 8Sajibu Cheiraoba (Meitei people) – April 8Ugadi (Hinduism) –April 8Yom Kippur Katan (Hebrew calendar) – April 8Rosh Chodesh of Nisan/Fast of Pilegesh Bagiva (Hebrew calendar) – April 9 (fast is optional and is generally only observed by Chevra kadisha)Gangaur (Hinduism) – April 10 Pongtu (Tutsa Naga) – April 11Cambodian New Year – April 13–15Water-Sprinkling Festival (Dai people) - April 13-15Mesha Sankranti/Pana Sankranti (Hinduism) – April 13Songkran (Lao) - April 13–15Vishu (Hinduism, Indian National Calendar) – April 13–14Bohag Bihu (Assamese people) – April 14Delphinia (Attic calendar, Hellenism) – April 14 Maithili New Year - April 14 (Nepali calendar) - April 14Puthandu (Tamil calendar) – April 14Sangken (certain Buddhist communities in India) – April 14Sinhalese New Year (Sri Lanka) - April 14 Rama Navami (Hinduism) – April 15Hùng Kings' Festival (Vietnamese calendar) - April 16Shabdrung Kurchoe (Bhutanese calendar) - April 16Kamada Ekadashi (Hinduism) – April 17Fast of Miriam (Hebrew calendar) – April 18 (fast is optional and is generally only observed by Chevra kadisha)11 Nissan (Hebrew calendar, Chabad sect only) – April 19Education and Sharing Day (Hebrew calendar, United States) – April 19Mahavir Jayanti (Jainism) (April 19Karnataka and Rajasthan only, April 20 in other locations)Garia puja (Tripura, India) – April 20Birthday of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Islamic calendar – April 20Mahavir Jayanti (Jainism) – April 20 (April 19 in Karnataka and Rajasthan)Ridván (Bahai) April 20 – May 1Bak Full Moon Poya (Sri Lanka) - April 21 Bedikas Chametz (Hebrew calendar) – April 21Father's Day (Islamic calendar) – April 21Hanuman Jayanti (Hinduism) – April 21Fast of the Firstborn (Hebrew calendar) – April 22Passover (Hebrew calendar) – (Begins sundown) April 22-April 30 (Ends April 29 in Israel)Counting of the Omer (Hebrew calendar) – April 23-June 10. (Ends June 9 in Israel)Feast of Beauty – (Bahai calendar) – April 27Mimouna (Hebrew calendar) – April 30 (April 29 in Israel)Square Root Day – April 4National Health Day (Kiribati) – April 8Crime Victims' Rights Week – April 10–16National Volunteer Week v April 10–16 (Canada, United States)Youth Homelessness Matters Day – April 13 (Australia)Day of Dialogue (United States) – April 14Day of Silence (United States) – April 15Global Youth Service Day - April 15–17National Park Week (United States) – April 16–24National Dance Week (United States – April 22 – May 1Vaccination Week In The Americas – April 23–30European Immunization Week – April 24–30Denim Day (International observance) – April 27Pay It Forward Day - April 28Ulcinj Municipality Day (Ulcinj, Montenegro)A Drop of Water Is a Grain of Gold (Turkmenistan)Geologists Day (former Soviet Union countries)Kanamara Matsuri (Kawasaki, Japan)Opening Day (United States)National Library Week (United States)National Library Workers Day (United States) (Tuesday of National Library week, April 5)National Bookmobile Day (Wednesday of National Library week, April 6)National Library Workers Day (United States) (Thursday of National Library week, April 7)National Public Health Week (United States)National Dark-Sky Week (United States)First Wednesday – April 6
National Day of Hope (United States)Second Friday of April – April 8
Fast and Prayer Day (Liberia)Air Force Day (Russia)Kamakura Matsuri at Tsurugaoka Hachiman (Kamakura, Japan), lasts until third Sunday.Pan-American Week (United States)Second Sunday – April 10
Second Wednesday - April 13
International Day of PinkSecond Thursday – April 14
National D.A.R.E. Day (United States)Third Saturday – April 16
Record Store Day (International observance)Patriots' Day (Massachusetts, Maine, United States)Queen's Official Birthday (Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha)Sechseläuten (Zürich, Switzerland)Administrative Professionals' Day – New ZealandFirst Day of Summer (Iceland)National High Five Day (United States)Administrative Professionals Week (Malaysia, North America)World Immunization WeekLast Sunday – April 24
Flag Day – (Åland Islands, Finland)Turkmen Racing Horse Festival (Turkmenistan)April 27 - moves to April 26 if April 27 is on a Sunday - April 27
Koningsdag - (Netherlands)Wednesday of last full week of April – April 27
Administrative Professionals' Day – Hong Kong, North AmericaLast Monday - April 26
Confederate Memorial Day (Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, United States)Last Wednesday - April 27
International Noise Awareness DayFourth Thursday – April 28
Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day (United States)Last Friday – April 29
Arbor Day (United States)Día de la Chupina (Rosario, Argentina)Last Friday in April to first Sunday in May – April 29–May 1
Arbor Week in OntarioLast Saturday – April 30
Children's Day (Colombia)National Rebuilding Day (United States)National Sense of Smell Day (United States)World Tai Chi and Qigong DayPassion Sunday - April 2 (no longer officially celebrated by Roman Catholic church, still celebrated by other denominations)Palm Sunday - April 9Holy Monday - April 10Holy Tuesday - April 11Spy Wednesday - April 12Holy Thursday - April 13Good Friday - April 14Holy Saturday - April 15Easter Sunday - April 16Easter Monday - April 17Divine Mercy Sunday – April 23 (Second Sunday of Easter)Jubilate Sunday – April 30 (Third Sunday of Easter)Saturday of the Akathist – April 1Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt – April 2Nabi Musa – April 7Lazarus Saturday – April 8Palm Sunday – April 9Flower's Day (Bulgaria)Great and Holy Monday – April 10Great and Holy Tuesday – April 11Great and Holy Wednesday – April 12Great and Holy Thursday – April 13,Great and Holy Friday – April 14Great and Holy Saturday – April 15Pascha - April 16Fasika (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)Bright Monday - April 17Sham el-Nessim (Egypt)Bright Tuesday - April 18Bright Wednesday - April 19Bright Thursday - April 20Bright Friday - April 21Bright Saturday - April 22Thomas Sunday - April 23Radonitsa (Russian Orthodox) - April 24 or 25 (depends on region)Sunday of the Myrrhbearers - April 30April 1April Fools' DayArbor Day (Tanzania)Civil Service Day (Thailand)Cyprus National Day (Cyprus)Edible Book DayFossil Fools DayKha b-Nisan (Assyrian people)National Civil Service Day (Thailand)Season for Nonviolence January 30-April 4April 2International Children's Book Day (International observance)Malvinas Day (Argentina)National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (United States)Odisha Day (Odisha, India)Thai Heritage Conservation Day (Thailand)Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day (Belarus)World Autism Awareness Day (International observance)April 3April 4Children's Day (Hong Kong, Taiwan)Independence Day (Senegal)Peace Day (Angola)April 5Children's Day (Palestinian territories)National Caramel Day (United States)Sikmogil (South Korea)April 6Chakri Day (Thailand)National Beer Day (United Kingdom)New Beer's Eve (United States)Tartan Day (United States & Canada)April 7Flag 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)No Housework DaySheikh Abeid Amani Karume Day (Tanzania)Women's Day (Mozambique)World Health Day (International observance)April 8Buddha's Birthday (Japan only, other countries follow different calendars)Feast of the First Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema)International Romani Day (International observance)Trading Cards for Grown-ups DayApril 9Anniversary of the German Invasion of Denmark (Denmark)Baghdad Liberation Day (Iraqi Kurdistan)Bataan Day or Araw ng Kagitingan (Philippines)Constitution Day (Kosovo)Day of National Unity (Georgia)Day of the Finnish Language (Finland)Feast of the Second Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema)International Banshtai Tsai DayMartyr's Day (Tunisia)National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (United States)Remembrance for Haakon Sigurdsson (The Troth)Vimy Ridge Day (Canada)April 10Day of the Builder (Azerbaijan)Feast of the Third Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema)Siblings Day (International observance)April 11Juan Santamaría Day, anniversary of his death in the Second Battle of Rivas. (Costa Rica)International Louie Louie DayNational Cheese Fondue Day (United States)World Parkinson's DayApril 12Children's Day (Bolivia and Haiti)Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin:Cosmonautics Day (Russia)International Day of Human Space FlightYuri's Night (International observance)Halifax Day (North Carolina)National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day (United States)National Redemption Day (Liberia)Walk on Your Wild Side DayApril 13Jefferson's Birthday (United States)Katyn Memorial Day (Poland)Puthandu (Tamils) (Britain, Canada),First day of Songkran (Thailand) (April 13–16)Teacher's Day (Ecuador)First day of Thingyan (Burma) (April 13–16)April 14ʔabusibaree (Okinawa Islands, Japan)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))Season of Emancipation (April 14 to August 23) (Barbados)N'Ko Alphabet Day (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 Spring Festival (Takayama, Gifu, Japan)Vaisakh (Punjab (region)), (India and Pakistan)Youth Day (Angola)April 15Day of the Sun (North Korea)Hillsborough Disaster Memorial(Liverpool, England)Jackie Robinson Day (United States)National Banana 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 (or requesting an extension). (United States, Philippines)Universal Day of CultureWorld Art DayApril 16Birthday 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)National Healthcare Decisions Day (United States)Remembrance of Chemical Attack on Balisan and Sheikh Wasan (Iraqi Kurdistan)World Voice DayApril 17Blah Blah Blah DayEvacuation Day (Syria)FAO Day (Iraq)Flag Day (American Samoa)Malbec World DayNational Cheeseball Day (United States)National Espresso Day (Italy)Women's Day (Gabon)World Hemophilia DayApril 18Anniversary of the Victory over the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of the Ice, 1242 (Russia)Army Day (Iran)Coma Patients' Day (Poland)Friend's Day (Brazil)Independence Day (Zimbabwe)International Day For Monuments and SitesInvention Day (Japan)Pet Owner's Independence DayApril 19Army Day (Brazil)Beginning of the Independence Movement (Venezuela)Bicycle DayDutch-American Friendship Day (United States)Holocaust Remembrance Day (Poland)Indian Day (Brazil)King Mswati III's birthday (Swaziland)Landing of the 33 Patriots Day (Uruguay)National Garlic Day (United States)National Rice Ball Day (United States)Primrose Day (United Kingdom)April 20420 (cannabis culture) (International)UN Chinese Language Day (United Nations)April 21A&M Day (Texas A&M University)Civil Service Day (India)Day of Local Self-Government (Russia)Grounation Day (Rastafari movement)Heroic Defense of Veracruz (Mexico)Kang Pan-sok’s Birthday (North Korea)Kartini Day (Indonesia)Local Self Government Day (Russia)National Tree Planting Day (Kenya)San Jacinto Day (Texas)Queen's Official Birthday (Falkland Islands)Tiradentes' Day (Brazil)Vietnam Book Day (Vietnam)April 22Discovery Day (Brazil)Earth Day (International observance) and its related observance:International Mother Earth DayHolocaust Remembrance Day (Serbia)National Jelly Bean Day (United States)April 23Castile and León Day (Castile and León, Spain)German Beer Day (Germany)Independence Day (Conch Republic, Key West, Florida)International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant DayKhongjom 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)La Diada de Sant Jordi (Catalonia, Spain)World Book DayUN English Language Day (United Nations)April 24Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (Armenia)Concord Day (Niger)Children's Day (Zambia)Democracy Day (Nepal)Fashion Revolution DayFlag Day (Ireland)International Sculpture DayKapyong Day (Australia)Labour Safety Day (Bangladesh)National Panchayati Raj Day (India)National Pigs in a Blanket Day (United States)Republic Day (The Gambia)St Mark's Eve (Western Christianity)World Day for Laboratory AnimalsApril 25Anniversary of the First Cabinet of Kurdish Government (Iraqi Kurdistan)Anzac Day (Australia, New Zealand)Arbor Day (Germany)DNA DayFeast of Saint Mark (Western Christianity)Flag Day (Faroe Islands)Flag Day (Swaziland)Freedom Day (Portugal)Liberation Day (Italy)Major Rogation (Western Christianity)Military Foundation Day (North Korea)National Zucchini Bread Day (United States)Parental Alienation Awareness DayRed Hat Society DaySinai Liberation Day (Egypt)World Malaria DayApril 26Chernobyl disaster related observances: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 DayHug an Australian DayLesbian Visibility DayNational Pretzel Day (United States)Old Permic Alphabet DayUnion Day (Tanzania)World Intellectual Property DayApril 27Day of Russian Parliamentarism (Russia)Day of the Uprising Against the Occupying Forces (Slovenia)Flag Day (Moldova)Freedom Day (South Africa)UnFreedom DayIndependence Day (Sierra Leone)Independence Day (Togo)National Day (Mayotte)National Day (Sierra Leone)National Prime Rib Day (United States)National Veterans' Day (Finland)April 28Lawyers' Day (Orissa, India)Mujahideen Victory Day (Afghanistan)National Day (Sardinia, Italy)National Heroes Day (Barbados)Restoration of Sovereignty Day (Japan)Workers' Memorial Day and World Day for Safety and Health at Work (international)National Day of Mourning (Canada)April 29Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (United Nations)International Dance Day (UNESCO)Princess Bedike's Birthday (Denmark)National Shrimp Scampi Day (United States)Shōwa Day, traditionally the start of the Golden Week holiday period, which is April 29 and May 3–5. (Japan)April 30Armed Forces Day (Georgia (country))Birthday of the King (Sweden)Camarón Day (French Foreign Legion)Children's Day (Mexico)Consumer Protection Day (Thailand)Honesty Day (United States)International Jazz Day (UNESCO)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-Druidic Wheel of the Year)Carodejnice (Czech Republic and Slovakia)Walpurgis Night (Central and Northern Europe)National Persian Gulf Day (Iran)Reunification Day (Vietnam)Russian State Fire Service Day (Russia)Tax Day (Canada)Teachers' Day (Paraguay)