April
April - name comes from the Latin word 'aperire',
which means 'to open'
April was the second month in an early Roman calendar, but became the fourth when the ancient Romans started using January as the first month. The Romans called the month Aprilis.
The Anglo-Saxon name for this month is Eastermonath, the month
of Eostre the goddess of Spring and origin of Easter. The Irish word for April
is Aibrean or an Giblean. The end of April is known as Seachtain an t-Sionnaich,
end of the winds. The Franks called it Ostarmanoth. The Asatru and many other
Pagans call it Ostara.
The first Full Moon of this month is called
Seed of Planting Moon, Budding Tree Moon, or Growing Moon. It is also referred
to as Pink Moon, Green Grass Moon, Planter or Planting Moon, and Hare Moon,
names it shares with May’s Moon. It also shares the name, Wind Moon, with March.
Britain: Flowers include cowslips, lesser
celandine, and lady’s smock
Birds: blue tits, great tits take insects
to feed their young
Eggs of toads, frogs and newts are developing
Finches, sparrows, tits etc are feeding fledglings
that are learning to fly
Swallows start to return
Yellow flowers are in abundance followed by
white flowers
Birthstone: Diamond
April Fools Day (All Fools Day)
It is said that it started when the Julian calendar was replaced with the Gregorian calendar. The fools were those who refused to follow the new calendar and celebrated New Year on April 1st
Loki
Festival of Kwan Yin (Chinese/Japanese)
Cybele Roman Goddess
Fortuna
Boat Festival (French)
Passover -Jewish
Boat Festival (French)
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Megalesia
Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s birthday)
Megalesia
A-Ma/Matzu Festival (Portuguese/Chinese)
Megalesia
Megalesia (Roman)
Anahita (Persian/Babylonian)
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Baisakhi [Vaisakhi] - Hindu start of the New Year
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Sommarsblot (Norse) summer’s Day
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
St Padarn
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Cereralia. Roman festival in honour of Ceres
Parilia Roman festival in honour of Pales
Vinalia Priora dedicated to the nomen of Jupiter (Roman)
April 24
St Mark’s Eve
April 25
The Robigalia (Roman)
St Mark’s Day
Cuckoo Day
April 26
Fertility Festival (African)
April 27
Fertility Festival (African)
April 28
Roman Festival of Floralia dedicated to the goddess Flora
April 29
Floraila
April 30
Forelia
Walpurghis Night dedicated to to the Saxon goddess Walpurgh