April – Fourth Month of the Year
Spring, the pioneer of the summer, begins to show us its face in April thoroughly, with all the positivity, vibrant colors and fragrance. The word April comes from the Latin word “aperire”, which means to open. In so many places in the northern hemisphere April is the month when trees and flowers begin to bloom and go on to flower (to “open”).
It is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and consists of 30 days. It is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern hemisphere. April starts on the same day of the week as July and ends on the same day of the week as December in common years. During leap years, April starts on the same day of the week as January.
In April, small animals that were hibernating come out, the spring bird migration begins, bees and butterflies begin to gather nectar from the first flowers of the season. In some parts of the world, April is planting time but in other parts, it’s the harvest season. Because of the nice warm weather of April, amateur athletes begin to go outside and exercise in the fresh air.
People usually do huge spring cleaning in their houses, mowing their gardens and wardrobes may freshen up with the spring lightly outfits. The first day of April begins with April fool’s day. All month is celebrated in US as a humor month. April, for all these reasons, is the time to improve well-being, to boost morale, to enjoy the nature, to be thankful, to be energetic and to increase communication skills. All the people become usually in a good mood in April because of the Spring effect which brings fresh, warm and sunny weather.
Blank April 2019 Printable Calendar
Take advantage of this feeling of well-being, get a blank April 2019 calendar that you can feel motivated by putting yourself achievable goals. April 2019 calendar template will help you to adjust your event, trip and invitation schedule which are usually very active in April. If you like small holiday getaways, download an April 2019 calendar with holidays where holidays are already on and plan your time as you like!
HISTORY OF APRIL
April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and the Julian calendar. It 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.
April’s name is derived from the Latin word aperit, which means to open. 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.
On between April 16 and April 26 each year, the Lyrids meteor shower appears, with the peak generally occurring on April 22. Eta Aquariids meteor shower also appears in April from about April 21 to about May 20 each year with peak activity on or around May 6.
In April, the outdoor activities and open-air events usually begin and you may need to put them in order by using a useful PDF, JPEG printable calendar. Hence, you will be more planned and you will be able to get extra time to have more social activities during this beautiful month.
10 FACTS ABOUT APRIL
- April’s birthstone is the diamond, the birth flower is typically listed as either the Daisy (Bellis perennis) or the Sweet Pea. And the zodiac signs for the month of April are Aries (until April 20) and Taurus (April 21 onwards).
- The Boston Marathon is held during the month of April.
- In Ancient Rome the month of April was sacred to the goddess Venus.
- The Japanese fiscal year for most businesses starts on April 1st.
- In April there are held many cuckoo festivals in England. The arrival of the cuckoo bird in April is a signal that spring has arrived.
- April is the month when the professional baseball season begins in the United States.
- The Revolutionary War in America began on this month on April 19, 1775.
- April 23rd is known as the Feast day of the Patron Saint of England
- It was on 15 April 1912 that the Titanic hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and sank. Only 700 of the 2,224 passengers were rescued.
- On 11 April 1970 Apollo 13 launched from Cape Kennedy and 56 hours later it ran into difficulties. It was then that the often-misquoted line “Houston, we’ve had a problem here” was said.
APRIL HOLIDAYS IN THE UNITED STATES
Easter (April 21st, Sunday)
Easter is the oldest and most important festival of the Western Christian year, celebrating Jesus Christ’s resurrection (rising from the grave) following his crucifixion on Good Friday.
Easter is a commemoration of two important events with the first being deeply sad and dramatic while the other is just the opposite. The first one is the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ after which his body was placed in the tomb. Three days later he resurrected from death bringing happiness and joy.
Easter Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week, and the first day of Eastertide. Easter marks the end of the 40 days of Lent. Easter Sunday (or simply Easter Day) is the first day of the Easter Week which ends on Easter Saturday. Christ’s resurrection forms the basis of Christian faith as it demonstrates Jesus to be the Son of God, and symbolizes his conquest of death.
Every nation has its own way of celebrating Easter. Some of its traditions are likely linked to pagan traditions and have become commercial symbols for the holiday. In the United States, Easter is marked with sunrise church services, a big celebratory dinner or lunch on Easter Sunday, the decorating of Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts, Easter Bunny, Hot Cross Buns and Easter Parades.
April Fools’ Day (April 1st, Monday)
April Fools’ Day, sometimes called All Fools’ Day, is one of the most tolerant days of the year. Although its origin is uncertain, some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe that it comes from the difficulties in adoption of a new calendar.
According to the most reasonable explanation, many people refused or did not learn about the new calendar and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1.
Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on “fool’s errands” or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.
April Fools’ Day is observed throughout the Western world. Practices include sending someone looking for things that don’t exist, playing pranks, and trying to get people to believe made-up things and at the end shouting “April Fool’s!”
If you want to be “awake” on this day, just put a cognizable mark on 1st of April on your blank April 2019 calendar and avoid someone made fun of you!
APRIL BIRTHSTONE
Diamond
Image Credit: AmericanGemSociety
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS IN APRIL
April 15, 1452 – Leonardo da Vinci who was a legendary painter, polymath, sculptor, architect and musician was born in Anchiano, Italy.
April 23, 1564– William Shakespeare who was an English poet and dramatist was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK.
April 22, 1724– Immanuel Kant who was one of the most famous philosophers of his era was born in Konigsberg Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia).
April 16, 1889– Charlie Chaplin who was an English comic actor and filmmaker from the silent-film era was born in Walworth, UK.
April 25, 1917– Ella Fitzgerald who was an American jazz singer known as the ‘First Lady of Song’ was born in Newport News, Virginia.
April 25, 1940– Al Pacino who is a very famous American film/stage actor was born in East Harlem, New York City.
APRIL IN HISTORY
Before you filled out your own printable calendar, you may take a quick glance at some of the important events in History occurred in April listed below.
April 19, 1897 – The World’s oldest annual marathon run in Boston, Massachusetts, United States races for the first time.
April 4, 1949- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is established.
April 25, 1956 – Elvis Presley has his first number one on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart with “Heartbreak Hotel”
April 12, 1961 – Yuri Gagarin becomes the First Man in Space.
April 3, 2010 – The first iPad was released.