What Does April Mean?

There's More To April Than The Ever Depressing End of Fish Fries!

April 5, 2009       5 Comments
By: MyBayCity Staff

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On this cold and dreary April day, while contemplating something for my column, I decided to research the month of April! The month of April to me, as a Polish, Catholic gal, means simply that my Friday fish nights will end! It also means coloring Easter eggs, filling baskets with love and goodies, the birth of my annual planting season and resurrection!

Some April facts:

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. It may come from a word meaning 'to open', or it may come from Aphrodite, the Greek name for the goddess of love.

Small animals that hibernate are usually coming out of their burrows in April. The birds fly back northward or they settle down to have their families. The bees and butterflies begin to gather nectar from the first flowers of the season.

In some parts of the world, it's planting time. In other parts, it's the harvest season. Professional baseball begins in April. Then the amateur athletes begin to go outside in the warm weather. Spring cleaning starts and people start mowing their yards again.

Special days celebrated in April begin with the first day of April, when children and grown-ups play jokes on one another. Arbor Day is a day for planting trees, and it is observed on various April days. The Jewish festival of Pescah (Passover) is celebrated early in April. Easter is almost always in April, and, with it comes other Christian celebrations such as Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday,and Good Friday.

April Fools' Day, or All Fools' Day, is the first day of April. No one knows where the custom began, but some historians believe it started in France. They had a New Year's festival that was celebrated from March 25 to April 1, and they would then exchange gifts. But, later, King James IV changed the holiday to January 1 for New Years. The people that still celebrated it April 1 were called 'April fish' and sent mock presents.

Arbor Day is set aside for planting trees and is mostly celebrated by school children. Most states celebrate the holiday as does most provinces in Canada. Southern States and Hawaii celebrate it somewhere between December and March, while most Northern states celebrate it in April or May.

The holiday began in Nebraska. Through the efforts of Julius Sterling Morton, a newspaper publisher, April 10, 1872 was set aside as Nebraska's first Arbor Day. After his death, the legislature made April 22, the legal holiday for Arbor Day.

The story of the Passover, also called Pesah, is told in the Bible in the book of Exodus, Chapter 12. It begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month Nisan, which usually begins in March or April.

The word Passover comes from the Biblical story of the 10th plague, which God brought on Egypt for keeping the Israelites in bondage. The story says that the blood of a lamb was put on the lintel and two side posts of each Israelites' home. When God saw the blood, this would save the people in that house.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, thus making it the most important Christian festival of the year. On the third day, Christ' tomb was empty, he arose, and people talked with him. Christians believe his resurrection means that they too will some day receive a new life after death.

The holiday can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25, since it is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon in the Northern Hemisphere.

The new plant life that comes in the spring is associated with the new life that Christians gain because of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The word Easter may have come from the English word, Eastre. Some believe Eastre was the name of a pagan goddess of spring, a spring festival, or the name of a season.

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week on the Christian calendar, and is the Sunday before Easter. People spread palms and clothing in front of Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, several days before his crucifixion. Today, many carry on the traditions and observe Palm Sunday by passing out palms.

Some additional facts I found while wrapped in a blanket, trying to keep warm on this Sunday afternoon, ignoring the winter weather advisory are as follows:

DAISY and the sweet pea are the flowers of the month. Diamond is the birthstone for April

The Revolutionary War in America began on April 19, 1775, when British soldiers and American revolutionaries clashed in Massachusetts.

William Shakespeare, the playright, was born on April 23, 1564. He also died in Massachusetts in 1616.

Feast day of the Patron Saint of England is April 23.

The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, when South Vietnam surrendered.

After hours of research, I still find myself wanting to look up where the last fish fries of this Lent season will be held this coming week. That, I did and will share with you my findings below!



Whatever April means to you and yours, I wish you warmth, good eats and happiness this season of rebirth!

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

Bukowski says:       On April 05, 2009 at 06:47 PM Hey, thanks Marlo. Saved us from waiting for the last word or making calls. Us southend Catholic/polish folk need to stick together.

mlynne7923 Says:       On April 05, 2009 at 08:52 PM Marlo, Enjoyed your April article. Good work! Martha

Anonymous Says:       On April 05, 2009 at 09:20 PM William Shakespeare lived his whole life in Stratford England, he was born there and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church there. Not in Massachusetts

Anonymous Says:       On April 06, 2009 at 09:57 AM Thanks for the friday fish heads up. Your readers appreciate it! Happy Easter season to you and yours Marlo

Jankowski Brenda says:       On April 07, 2009 at 09:38 AM Marlo, good article, never thought of April in this manner, other than withdrawls from fish nights, I can definitly relate. Any updates on Marlobama Madness? We have had three more corporations come forth and offer their servies, can't wait until the next meeting. What your trying to accomplish for our community goes far and beyond what any one person could possibly do, but your doing it with your networking connections. As they always say, "If you need it, call Marlo, she will know where to find it", good job as always girlfriend!

Agree? or Disagree? Leave a Comment!

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