April facts for kids
April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. It has 30 days.
April is usually linked with spring in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's like autumn, similar to October in the Northern Hemisphere.
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The Story of April's Name
The Romans called this month Aprilis. We're not totally sure where this name came from! One idea is that it comes from the Latin word aperire, which means "to open". This makes sense because in April, trees and flowers start to "open up" and bloom.
Another idea is that April was named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Her special day, the Veneralia, was on April 1st. Some think Aprilis might have come from her Greek name, Aphrodite.
April was actually the second month in the very first Roman calendar. Later, around 450 BC, it became the fourth month. It first had 29 days, but Julius Caesar changed it to 30 days when he created the Julian calendar.
The Anglo-Saxons (early English people) called April ēastre-monaþ. A wise monk named Venerable Bede said this name is where we get the word Easter. He thought it was named after a goddess called Eostre.
In Slovene, a language spoken in Slovenia, April is called mali traven. This means "the month when plants start growing," which is a perfect description for spring!
Special Days and Events
In Ancient Rome, many festivals happened in April. For example, Cerealia celebrated grain, and Floralia celebrated flowers. These festivals were important for the Romans.
April is also a time for amazing meteor showers! The Lyrids meteor shower happens from April 16 to 26, usually peaking around April 22. The Eta Aquariids also appear in April, and the Pi Puppids can be seen in some years.
April's Symbols
April has its own special symbols! The birthstone for April is the beautiful diamond.
The birth flowers are the common daisy and the sweet pea.
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The zodiac signs for April are Aries (for those born until April 19) and Taurus (for those born from April 20 onwards).
Observances and Celebrations
This section lists some special days and events that happen in April.
Month-long Observances
- In Christian faiths, April is often seen as the Month of the Resurrection of the Lord. Easter Sunday is also celebrated in April or March.
- National Pet Month (United Kingdom)
In the United States
- Arab American Heritage Month
- Autism Awareness Month
- Financial Literacy Month
- Jazz Appreciation Month
- National Poetry Month
- National Volunteer Month
Movable Observances
These dates change each year.
- Youth Homelessness Matters Day
- Record Store Day (International observance) (Third Saturday)
- Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day (United States) (Fourth Thursday)
- Arbor Day (United States) (Last Friday)
- World Tai Chi and Qigong Day (Last Saturday)
Fixed Observances
These dates are the same every year.
- April 1
- April Fools' Day
- Edible Book Day
- World Autism Awareness Day (International observance)
- April 2
- International Children's Book Day (International observance)
- April 4
- Children's Day (Hong Kong, Taiwan)
- International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
- April 7
- World Health Day (International observance)
- April 8
- International Romani Day (International observance)
- April 10
- Siblings Day (International observance)
- April 12
- International Day of Human Space Flight (celebrates Yuri Gagarin's first trip to space)
- Yuri's Night (International observance)
- April 14
- Ambedkar Jayanti (India)
- Pan American Day (several countries in the Americas)
- April 15
- World Art Day
- April 20
- UN Chinese Language Day (United Nations)
- April 22
- Earth Day (International observance)
- International Mother Earth Day
- April 23
- National Sovereignty and Children's Day (Turkey)
- St George's Day (England)
- World Book Day
- UN English Language Day (United Nations)
- April 24
- Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (Armenia)
- International Sculpture Day
- April 25
- Anzac Day (Australia, New Zealand)
- Freedom Day (Portugal)
- World Malaria Day
- April 26
- Chernobyl disaster related observances
- World Intellectual Property Day
- April 27
- Freedom Day (South Africa)
- April 28
- Workers' Memorial Day and World Day for Safety and Health at Work (international)
- April 29
- International Dance Day (UNESCO)
- Shōwa Day (Japan)
- April 30
- Children's Day (Mexico)
- International Jazz Day (UNESCO)
- Walpurgis Night (Central and Northern Europe)
See also
In Spanish: Abril para niños
