Did you know that April is the finest month of the year to gaze up at the sky and observe meteor showers?
April is recognized for its gorgeous spring weather, the beginning of warmer weather, and the advent of the Easter bunny!
Learn about the beginnings of this lovely spring month, as well as some interesting historical facts!
  1. We know it's the fourth month of the year, but only according to the Gregorian calendar, which we currently use. In the former Julian calendar, it was the fifth month.
  2. April had 29 days as well, but when Julius Caesar founded the Julian calendar, a 30th day was added.
  3. April is the Southern Hemisphere's seasonal equivalent of October.
  4. Nobody knows how the month got its name, but we do know the Romans called it "Aprillis."
  5. The term "April" is derived from the verb "aperire," which means "to open." It is usually assumed that the term relates to the time of year when trees and flowers begin to "open" or bloom.
  6. April babies have a diamond as their birthstone, which denotes innocence. A Daisy or a Sweet Pea is their natal flower.
  7. In April, there are two zodiac signs. Aries (until April 19th) and Taurus (from April 20th on wards).
  8. The month of April is ideal for meteor showers. The Lyrids meteor shower, which occurs every year from April 16th to April 26th, is one of them. Another one is the Eta Aquariids meteor shower, which may be viewed beginning April 21st.
  9. April is the birth month of several historical figures, including Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare, and Queen Elizabeth II.
  10. On April 14, 1912, the famed Titanic ship collided with an iceberg and sunk on her maiden voyage.
  11. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States.
  12. April was considered sacred to the goddess Venus by the Ancient Romans.
  13. On April 1st, one of the most well-known occasions of the month is April Fools' Day. Nobody knows where this came from, however some claim it was influenced by Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury    14. Tales" narrative "Nun's Priest's Tale."
Apollo 13 was launched on April 11, 1970, and ran into problems around two days later. It was then when the famous statement "Houston, we've had a problem here" was spoken, which is often misquoted today.
  15. After a 1,500-year hiatus, the first modern Olympics were held on April 6, 1896, in Athens.
  16. On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power facility in Ukraine exploded, forcing everyone within a 300-mile radius to evacuate.
  17. Smaller animals that hibernate in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter generally emerge from their tunnels around April.
  18. April is also the month when the birds move north to mate for the summer.
  19. For all you automotive fans out there, on April 17, 1964, Ford presented their first Mustang, which cost $2,368.
  20. On April 19, 1775, the first combat of the Revolutionary War, Lexington and Concord, erupted.
As you can see, April is more than simply April Fool's Day, however it is one of the most entertaining days of the month!
And, as we all know, "April showers bring May flowers," so if the April rain gets you down, remember the silver lining!