Fun Facts

The Month of April 2024: Holidays, Fun Facts, Folklore

The Month of April

• The month of April gets its name from the Latin word aperio, meaning “to open [bud],” because plants really begin to grow now.

• April Calendar

• April 1 is All Fools’ Day—otherwise known as “April Fools’ Day.” Where did this silly day come from?

• April 22 is the start of Passover, which begins at sundown.

• April 22 is Earth Day. To celebrate, see some Earth Day ideas and activities.

• April 24 is the birthday of Robert B. Thomas, the founder of The Old Farmer’s Almanac!

• February 14 is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent.

• April 28 is National Arbor Day. Find out who started Arbor Day and how we observe this day honoring trees.

“Just for Fun” Days

• Apr. 1 (first Monday in April): Sweet Potato Day

• Apr. 6 (first Saturday in April): International Pillow Fight Day

• Apr. 7: National No Housework Day

• Apr. 10: Gopher Tortoise Day (Florida)

• Apr. 17: Blah, Blah, Blah Day

• Apr. 21 (third Sunday in April): Go Fly a Kite Day

• Apr. 26: National Richter Scale Day

• Apr. 28 (last Saturday in April): National Sense of Smell Day.

• How Many Days Are in April? April has 30 Days!

April Astronomy

• April’s full Pink Moon will rise on Tuesday, April 23, reaching peak illumination at 7:49 P.M. Eastern Time. Learn more about April’s full Moon here!

April Weather

• “A cold April the barn will fill.”

• This month brings us some capricious weather! April rains bring verdant pastures but also umbrellas and rain boots!

Gardening

• Does the warmth of spring turn your thoughts to gardening?

• Make a Container Gardening Planter

• Growing Guides for Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers, and More

April Birthstone & Birth Flower

• Birthstone: Diamond

• Birth Flowers: Daisy and Sweet Pea.

April’s Quiz

Which event did not happen in April?

• A. “Shot heard ’round the world”/Battles of Lexington and Concord

• B. Mutiny on the HMS Bounty

  C. First transcontinental railroad completed at Promontory Summit in Utah Territory

• D. Harrowing flight of Apollo 13

  Rhyme Time

• April cold with dripping rain.

  Willows and lilacs brings again,

  The whistle of returning birds,

  And trumpet-lowing of the herds.

  –Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82)

  
  

  Oh, how fresh the wind is blowing!

  See! The sky is bright an clear,

  Oh, how green the grass is growing!

  April! April! Are you here?

  –Dora R. Goodale (1866–1953)

  
  

  AMSWER TO QUIZ:

  C, on May 10, 1869. (A. April 19, 1775; B. April 28, 1789; D. April 11–17, 1970)