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April is the fourthmonth of the year in theGregorian calendar, and one of four months with a length of 30days. April was originally the second month of theRoman calendar, before January and February were added by KingNuma Pompilius about 700 BC. It became the fourth month of the calendar year (the year when twelve months are displayed in order) during the time of thedecemviri about 450 BC, when it also was given 29 days. The derivation of the name (LatinAprilis) is uncertain. The traditional etymology from the Latinaperire, "to open," in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open," is supported by comparison with the modern Greek use of ἁνοιξις (opening) for spring. Since most of the Roman months were named in honor of divinities, and as April was sacred toVenus, theFestum Veneris et Fortunae Virilis being held on the first day, it has been suggested that Aprilis was originally her month Aphrilis, from her Greek nameAphrodite (Aphros), or from theEtruscan nameApru.Jacob Grimm suggests the name of a hypothetical god or hero,Aper orAprus.
TheAnglo-Saxons called AprilOster-monath orEostur-monath, the period sacred toEostre orOstara, the pagan Saxon goddess of spring, from whose name is derived the modernEaster.Saint George's Day is the twenty-third of the month; andSt Mark's Eve, with its superstition that the ghosts of those who are doomed to die within the year will be seen to pass into the church, falls on the twenty-fourth. In China the symbolic ploughing of the earth by the emperor and princes of the blood takes place in their third month, which frequently corresponds to our April. The Finnish called this monthHuhtikuu, or 'Burnwood Month', when the wood for beat and burn clearing of farmland was felled.
The "days of April" (journées d'avril) is a name appropriated in French history to aseries of insurrections at Lyons, Paris and elsewhere, against the government ofLouis Philippe in 1834, which led to violent repressive measures, and to a famous trial known asLe procès des insurgés d'avril.
Thebirthstone of April is thediamond or thesapphire, and thebirth flower is typically listed as either theDaisy or theSweet pea. However, a few questionable online sources also cite theTulip, as well.
InThe Waste Land,T. S. Eliot called April "the cruellest month".
April starts on the same day of the week as July in all years, and January in leap years.
