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South Salt Lake Journal

Finally, it’s Stress Awareness Month

Apr 22, 2021 12:20PM ● By Bill Hardesty

April showers bring May flowers? (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

By Bill Hardesty | [email protected]

April is such a colorful month as flowers bloom. The origin of the name is as colorful. The word “April” has been around since 1150. It was the second month of the Roman calendar. Around 450 BCE, April was moved to the fourth spot and was assigned 29 days. Pope Gregory XIII, in 1582, changed it to 30 days when he introduced the Gregorian calendar.

One theory among many is the name is rooted in the Latin aprilis, which is derived from the Latin aperire. Aperire means to open. So, maybe the name honors all the flowers opening in April.

Another theory returns to the gods. Aphrillis is derived for the Greek Aphrodite. It is possible the month was named after the Greek goddess of love.

We know the month begins with a day of fun if you are the prankster or a sad day if you are the victim. The origin of April Fool’s Day is a mystery. One possible explanation is that with the Julian calendar, the new year started on April 1. However, when Pope Gregory XIII moved New Year Day, some folks were behind the times and still celebrated New Year’s Day on April 1. They were considered fools, perhaps? 

Another explanation comes from “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer. One line in the book refers to “March 32.” What the statement referred to is lost to history, but experts think it is a joke which gave way to joke day.

The old saying about “April showers bring May flowers” implies April is a rainy month. Is it?  That depends on the measurement. According to weather-us.com, on average, April has the rainiest days at 8.9 days. However, March is the wettest month at 0.51 inches compared to 0.43 inches (third highest tied with January).

National recognition days

April has serious subjects to consider. April is Keep America Beautiful Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and Scottish-American Heritage month. Other recognition brings a smile.

  • Couple Appreciation Month – I think we need to move St. Valentine’s Day.
  • Move More Month – Must I?
  • National Humor Month – After 2020, we need a National Humor Year.
  • National Internship Awareness Day – Check out the Club to Career internship article in this edition.
  • National Soft Pretzel Month – One a day is all that is asked.
  • Stress Awareness Month – Is this because you were pranked on April Fool’s Day?

In April, there is only one recognition week. April 4-10 is National Library Week. Maybe the best way to celebrate the week is to open all libraries.

There are lots of recognition days in April. Some are important such as World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), World Health Day (April 7), Earth Day (April 22), National Drug Take-Back Day (April 25), International Guide Dog Day (April 28), and National Arbor Day (April 30).

  • Lots of food days including:
  • National Burrito Day (April 1) – Hey, Taco Bell, how about a free one?
  • International Carrot Day (April 4) – What’s up, Doc?
  • National Beer Eve Day (April 6) – Time to prepare for National Beer Day.
  • National Beer Day (April 7) – The day Prohibition ended. I’ll drink to that.
  • National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day (April 12) – Nothing is better with tomato soup.
  • National Animal Crackers Day (April 18) – Do you know anyone who doesn’t like Animal Crackers?
  • National Jellybean Day (April 22) – A colorful indulgence of sugar, corn syrup and starch.
  • National Pig in a Blanket Day (April 24) – A childhood staple since 1957.
  • National Prime Rib Day (April 27) – The redder, the better.

Some unusual days

  • Major League Baseball Opening Day (April 1) – This should be a national holiday! (Go Dodgers!)
  • National Hug a Newsperson Day – Can we do that in 2021?
  • National Tell a Lie Day (April 4) – aka Politicians’ Day
  • Sorry, Charlie Day (April 6) – Think of Charlie Tuna of Star-Kist fame.
  • National No Housework Day (April 7) – Isn’t that every day?
  • National Name Yourself Day (April 9) – I always wanted to be named Bob.
  • National Winston Churchill Day (April 9) – Because President Kennedy said so.
  • National Scrabble Day (April 13) – Why do I always get the letter X?
  • National Ex-Spouse Day (April 14) – Is this related to National Velociraptor Awareness Day (April 18)?
  • National Wear Pajamas to Work Day (April 16) – What? I have been doing this since last March.
  • National Velociraptor Awareness Day (April 18) – Keep a lookout.
  • National Take a Chance Day (April 23) – Do something you are scared to do.
  • National Hairball Awareness Day (April 30) – This is no coughing matter.
  • National Honesty Day (April 30) – We lie on the 4th and confess on the 30th.