April

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April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, the fifth in the
early Julian, the first of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the second Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
of five months to have a length of less than 31 days. 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
seasonal equivalent to October in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
April begins on the same day of the week as July and January in leap years only. 2021
It ends on the same day of the week as December in every year. In common
years, it begins on the same day of the week as January and October
of the previous year and ends on the same day of the week as July of
the previous year. In leap years, it begins on the same day of the week
as May of the previous year and ends on the same day of the week as
January, February, and October of the previous year. In years
preceding common years, April begins on and ends on the same day
of the week as September and begins on the same day of the week as
December of the following year. In years preceding leap years, it
begins and ends on the same day of the week as June and ends on the
same day of the week as March of the following year.

Contents
History
April symbols
April, Brevarium Grimani, fol. 5v
April observances (Flemish)
Month-long observances
United States
United States Food months
Non-Gregorian observances: 2020
Movable observances, 2020 dates
First Wednesday: April 1
First Saturday: April 4
First Sunday: April 5
First full week: April 5–11
Second Wednesday: April 8
Second Thursday: April 9
Second Friday of April: April 10
Second Sunday: April 12
Week of April 14: April 12–18
 Third Wednesday: April 15
Third Thursday: April 16
Third Saturday: April 18
Last full week of April: April 19–25
Week of April 23: April 19–25
Week of the New Moon: April 19–25
Third Monday: April 20
Wednesday of last full week of April: April 22
First Thursday after April 18: April 23
Fourth Thursday: April 23
Last Friday: April 24
Last Friday in April to first Sunday in May: April 24-
May 3
Last Saturday: April 25
Last Sunday: April 26
April 27 (moves to April 26 if April 27 is on a
Sunday): April 27
Last Monday: April 27
Last Wednesday: April 29
Fixed observances
See also
References
External links

History
The Romans gave this month the Latin name Aprilis[1] 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.[2]

April was the second month of the earliest Roman calendar,[3] 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.[3]
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.[3] 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.[4]

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 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.[3]

April symbols
April's birthstone is the diamond.
The birth flower is typically listed as either the Daisy (Bellis
perennis) or the Sweet Pea.[5][6]
The zodiac signs for the month of April are Aries (until April
20) and Taurus (April 21 onwards).[7][8]

April observances
This list does not necessarily imply either official status nor general Diamond crystals
observance.

Month-long observances
In Catholic and Orthodox tradition, April is the Month of the Resurrection of the Lord.
National Pet Month (United Kingdom)

United States
 Arab American Heritage Month
Autism Awareness Month[9][10][11]
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
National Poetry Month Faceted diamond

National Poetry Writing Month

Occupational Therapy Month [12]
National Prevent Child Abuse Month
National Volunteer Month
Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month

United States Food months

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

Non-Gregorian observances: 2020

(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
Sweet pea
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, 2020 dates

Youth Homelessness Matters Day
National Health Day (Kiribati): April 6
Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (United States): April 13–19[13]
National Park Week (United States): April 18–26
Crime Victims' Rights Week (United States): April 19–25[14]
 National Volunteer Week: April 19–25
European Immunization Week: April 20–26
Day of Silence (United States): April 24
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

National Day of Hope (United States)

Buddha's Birthday is celebrated in

First Saturday: April 4 April (here is pictured the Tian Tan
Buddha in Hong Kong)
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, Japan)
Opening Day (United States)

First full week: April 5–11

National Library Week (United States)
National Library Workers Day (United States) (Tuesday of National Library week, April 4)
National Bookmobile Day (Wednesday of National Library week, April 5)
National Public Health Week (United States)
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

Fast and Prayer Day (Liberia)
Air Force Day (Russia)
Kamakura Matsuri at Tsurugaoka Hachiman (Kamakura, Japan), lasts until third Sunday.
Second Sunday: April 12
Children's Day (Peru)

Week of April 14: April 12–18

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 Week (Malaysia, North America)
World Immunization Week

Week of April 23: April 19–25

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 (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

Arbour Week in Ontario

Last Saturday: April 25

Children's Day (Colombia)
National Rebuilding Day (United States)
National Sense of Smell Day (United States)
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day

Last Sunday: April 26

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)

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)
Civil Service Day (Thailand)
Cyprus National Day (Cyprus)
Edible Book Day
Fossil Fools Day
Kha b-Nisan (Assyrian people)
National Civil Service Day (Thailand)
 Odisha Day (Odisha, India)
Start of 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)
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 Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
Peace Day (Angola)
April 5
Children's Day (Palestinian territories)
National Caramel Day (United States)
Sikmogil (South Korea)
April 6
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)
No Housework Day
Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume Day (Tanzania)
Women's Day (Mozambique)
World Health Day (International observance)
April 8
Buddha'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 Day
April 9
Anniversary 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 Day
Martyr's Day (Tunisia)
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (United States)
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
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)
National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day (United States)
National Redemption Day (Liberia)
Walk on Your Wild Side Day
April 13
Jefferson's Birthday (United States)
Katyn Memorial Day (Poland)
Teacher's Day (Ecuador)
First day of Thingyan (Myanmar) (April 13–16)
Unfairly Prosecuted Persons Day (Slovakia)
April 14
ʔabusibaree (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 15

Day of the Sun (North Korea).[15]

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 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)
National Healthcare Decisions Day (United States)
Remembrance of Chemical Attack on Balisan and Sheikh Wasan (Iraqi Kurdistan)
World Voice Day
April 17
Blah Blah Blah Day
Evacuation Day (Syria)
FAO Day (Iraq)
Flag Day (American Samoa)
Malbec World Day
National Cheeseball Day (United States)
National Espresso Day (Italy)
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)
Friend's Day (Brazil)
Independence Day (Zimbabwe)
International Day For Monuments and Sites
Invention Day (Japan)
Pet Owner's Independence Day
April 19
Army Day (Brazil)
Beginning of the Independence Movement (Venezuela)
Bicycle Day
Dutch-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 20
420 (cannabis culture) (International)
UN Chinese Language Day (United Nations)
April 21
A&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 22
Discovery Day (Brazil)
Earth Day (International observance) and its related observance:
International Mother Earth Day
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Serbia)
National Jelly Bean Day (United States)
April 23
Castile and León Day (Castile and León, Spain)
German Beer Day (Germany)
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)
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 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 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)
Flag Day (Swaziland)
Freedom Day (Portugal)
Liberation Day (Italy)
Major Rogation (Western Christianity)
Military Foundation Day (North Korea)[15]
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:
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
Hug an Australian Day
Lesbian Visibility Day
National Pretzel Day (United States)
Old Permic Alphabet Day
Union Day (Tanzania)
World Intellectual Property Day
April 27
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)
Independence Day (Togo)
National Day (Mayotte)
National Day (Sierra Leone)
National Prime Rib Day (United States)
National Veterans' Day (Finland)
April 28
Lawyers' 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 29
Day 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 30
 Armed 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)

See also
Germanic calendar
List of historical anniversaries
Sinking of the RMS Titanic

References
1. "April" in Chambers's Encyclopædia. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 1, p. 497.
2. Jacob Grim Geschichte der deutschen Sprache. Cap. "Monate"
3. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "April". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2 (11th ed.).
Cambridge University Press. p. 230.
4. "Koledar prireditev v letu 2007 in druge informacije občine Dobrova–Polhov Gradec" (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20131102060918/http://www.dobrova-polhovgradec.si/doc/priponke/koleda
r%20prir%2007%20zadnji.pdf) [The Calendar of Events and Other Information of the
Municipality of Dobrova–Polhov Gradec] (PDF) (in Slovenian). Municipality of Dobrova-Polhov
Gradec. 2006. Archived from the original (http://www.dobrova-polhovgradec.si/doc/priponke/kol
edar%20prir%2007%20zadnji.pdf) (PDF) on November 2, 2013.
5. Kipfer, Barbara Ann (1997) The Order of Things. New York: Random House
6. "U101 College Search" (https://archive.is/20120911093344/http://www.shgresources.com/gem
s/birthflowers/). Archived from the original (http://www.shgresources.com/gems/birthflowers/) on
September 11, 2012.
7. The Earth passed the junction of the signs at 14:45 UT/GMT April 19, 2020, and will pass it
again at 20:33 UT/GMT April 19, 2021.
8. "Astrology Calendar" (https://www.yourzodiacsign.com/calendar/), yourzodiacsign. Signs in
UT/GMT for 1950–2030.
 9. webmaster@governor.virginia.gov. "Virginia Governor - Ralph Northam - Proclamation" (https://
www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/proclamations/proclamation/autism-awareness-month-an
d-world-autism-awareness-day.html). www.governor.virginia.gov. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
10. "Autism Awareness Month – Michael J. Dunleavy" (https://gov.alaska.gov/newsroom/2019/04/0
1/autism-awareness-month/). gov.alaska.gov. April 1, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
11. "World Autism Month" (https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-month). Autism Speaks.
Retrieved June 9, 2019.
12. "Occupational Therapy Month" (https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/OTMonth.aspx).
American Occupational Therapy Association. AOTA. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
13. https://headandneck.org/oral-head-neck-cancer-awareness-week-early-registration-now-open/
14. https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/
15. Seol Song Ah (December 7, 2015). "Kim Jong Un's birthday still not a holiday" (http://www.daily
nk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk01500&num=13620). Daily NK. Retrieved January 13,
2017.

External links
National Arbor Day Foundation (http://www.arborday.org/)

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