Of Holiday Fun and Facts

April

 

First Sunday in April
Daylight Savings Time starts

Daylight Savings Time (DST) denotes the period of the year
when clocks are set ahead one hour.
Settings clocks ahead in the summer (spring ahead),
and back in the winter (fall back) allows the clock hour
to better match the cycle of daylight and night.
This provides more daylight time during waking hours.
DST was originally suggested by Benjamin Franklin in 1784.
It began to be commonly observed during World War I.
DST was formally adopted through the
Uniform Time Act of 1966.
Daylight Savings Time ends on the last Sunday in October

April 1st

April Fools' Day

Observed by playing practical jokes

April 7th
World Health Day

Commemorates the founding of the World Health Organization
in 1948. It is observed by reflecting on world health issues.

April 8th

Flower Festival

This Buddhist holiday celebrates Buddha's birthday

April 13th

Thomas Jefferson's Birthday

Day to remember Thomas Jefferson,
author of the Declaration of Independence,
and a two term president (1801-09).
Jefferson was also an accomplished architect,
and served in many other significant political positions.
He was born in 1743 and died on July 4th, 1826
at his home in Monticello, VA

April 13th - 20th
Passover

Passover ("Pesach" in Hebrew) is one of the most important Jewish festivals.
It is celebrated on Nissan 15-22 by the Hebrew calendar,
which falls between late March and early April.,

Passover commemorates the Exodus, or the freeing of Israel
from Egyptian slavery in the 13th century BC. The name Passover
refers to the statement (Exod. 12:23) that God would pass over the homes of Israelites when killing the firstborn of Egypt. The Bible, however, applies the name to a festival involving a lamb sacrifice and the eating of unleavened bread. This was probably an ancient spring festival.

Passover is celebrated for one week. Work is not done on the first and last days. Only unleavened bread (matzo) is eaten throughout the week.
Orthodox Jews abstain from all leavened food and even non-leavened food
not specially prepared for the festival.

The first two evenings of Passover are observed by a festal meal, called Seder. During Seder the story of the Exodus is told through the reading
of the Haggadah and the symbols of the occasion are explained.  

 

April 14th
Good Friday

We remember Good Friday why Jesus Christ died on the cross.

 

April 14th
Pan American Day

This date commemorates the first conference of American states in 1890

April 15th

Personal income tax returns due

Income tax in the U.S. was instituted in the 16th amendment,
ratified in 1913. Withholding was introduced to fund World War II

April 16th

Easter Sunday

What is the meaning of Easter to all of us, from different nationalities, origins, religions. Each is different.
Just means one thing life, a new beginning.

 

April 20th

Start of Taurus,
the bull,
astrological sign

 

April 22nd

Earth Day

Day to reflect on ecological issues and recommit one's efforts
to the cooperative conservation and reclamation of the natural environment.
First observed in 1970

April 23rd
Secretaries Day

Day to honor and be kind to secretaries

April 25th

Daughters to Work Day

Parent's are encouraged to bring their daughters (and/or sons)
to work on this day, and to use this opportunity to educate their children on the nature of employment

April 26th

Arbor Day

A special day be set aside for the planting of trees.
First proposed in Nebraska in 1872,
later became a legal holiday there

April 30th
Walpurgis Night

Also known as witches' sabbath and eve of May Day.
This day commemorates the 8th century Saint Walpurigis,
who was held to be a protectress against witchcraft.
The specifics of observance of this holiday
could not be readily determined by this author.

" REMEMBER THINK SPRING"

Back HomeMy Kids