 
By Diva Cally
Spring Holidays
April showers bring May flowers or so
the old adage goes. This year April will also bring Easter, Passover
and many other holidays which celebrate Spring and renewal. How can we
renew and enrich our lives? As Diva's we can endeavour to be friendlier
to those with differences. We can pledge to repair our environment and
at the same time make the world around us just a little more beautiful.
By reusing, reducing and recycling this can happen. Just as we can
recycle garbage how about recycling relationships with those we have
grown apart from but, meant to stay in touch with?
Why do we celebrate April Fool's Day?
Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays, the history of April
Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear.
There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed
on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in
several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the
first day of spring.
The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of
this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year
was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration
culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles
IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved
to January 1.
However, communications being what they were in the days when news
traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several
years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new
calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These
backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They
were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands"
or were made the butt of other practical jokes.
This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing
on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England
and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the
American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus
developed into an international fun fest, so to speak, with different
nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense
of their friends and families.
In Scotland, for example, April Fool's Day is actually celebrated for
two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior
region of the body. It is called Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me"
sign can be traced to this observance.
Mexico's counterpart of April Fool's Day is actually observed on
December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter
of the innocent children by King Herod. It eventually evolved into a
lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.
Pranks performed on April Fool's Day range from the simple, (such as
saying, "Your shoe's untied!), to the elaborate. Setting a roommate's
alarm clock back an hour is a common gag. Whatever the prank, the
trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!"
Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fool's Day. Sometimes,
elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last
the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a
British short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed
documentary about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop
from the spaghetti trees.
April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to
buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy
restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little
holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for
he may be the next April Fool!
This months feature Holiday is: Anzac Day in New Zealand and Australia.
Anzac Day in New Zealand is held on 25 April each year to commemorate
New Zealander's killed in battle in Gallipoli and to honour returned
servicemen and women. The day has similar importance in Australia, New
Zealand's partner in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at
Gallipoli. The ceremony itself has been continually adapted to the
times, but has also steadily acquired extra layers of symbolism and
meaning especially since all the wars Australia and New Zealand have
taken part in are now remembered by this day.
The Dawn Service
A typical commemoration begins with a march by returned service
personnel before dawn to the local war memorial. Military personnel and
returned service-men and -women form up about the memorial, joined by
other members of the community, with pride of place going to the war
veterans. A short service follows with a prayer, hymns (including
Kipling's 'Recessional' or 'Lest We Forget'), and a dedication which
concludes with the last verse of Laurence Binyon's 'For the Fallen':
They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The Last Post is then played, followed by a minute's silence and
Reveille. A brief address follows, after which the hymn 'Recessional'
is sung. The service concludes with a closing prayer and the singing of
the National Anthem.
The Anzac Parade
Another ceremony takes place later that morning, with returned service
personnel wearing their medals, and marching behind banners and
standards. The veterans are joined by other community groups, including
members of the armed forces, the Red Cross, cadets, and veterans of
other country's forces. The march proceeds to the local war memorial,
where another service takes place, including the laying of wreaths by
various organisations and members of the public.
This service is a less intimate and emotional ceremony than the dawn
service, but serves as a more public commemoration. The speech, usually
by an important dignitary, serviceman, or returned serviceman or woman,
tends to be of a conservative nature, with much stress on nationhood
and remembrance. After these services, many of the veterans retire to
the local RSA club or hotel, where they enjoy coffee and rum and unwind
after an emotionally and, for elderly veterans, a physically exhausting
event. At the end of the day, the ceremony of the Retreat is performed.
April Is:
Alcohol Awareness Month
Anxiety Month (National)
Autism Awareness Month (National)
Child Abuse Prevention Month (National)
Counseling Awareness Month
Foot Health Awareness Month
Frog Month (National)
Garden Month (National)
Guitar Month (International)
Holocaust Remembrance Month
Humor Month (National)
Keep America Beautiful Month
Mathematics Education Month (National)
Poetry Month (National)
Occupational Therapy Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
STD Awareness Month (National)
Stress Awareness Month
Welding Month (National)
Famous Historical moments in April:
1 Oliver Pollack invents the dollar sign. (1778)
1 Daytime soap opera General Hospital first airs on ABC. (1963)
2 Congress passes the Coinage Act and the U.S. Mint is born. (1792)
3 The Pony Express begins delivering the mail. (1860)
4 Susanna Medora Salter is the first woman to be elected mayor in the
nation in Argonia, Kansas. (1887)
4 Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated. (1968)
4 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is signed. (1949)
6 The first modern Olympic games opens in Athens, Greece (1896)
8 Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th home run to surpass
Babe Ruth's 714 home run record. (1974)
9 French explorer LaSalle reaches the Mississippi river. (1691)
12 By an Act of Congress, Puerto Rico becomes a U.S, territory. (1900)
14 President Abraham Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's
Theater in Washington, D.C. He died the next day. (1865)
15 The Titanic hits an iceberg in the Northern Atlantic ocean as sinks.
(1912)
18 The Great San Fransisco earthquake hits, killing 700 people. (1906)
19 The Revolutionary War begins. (1775)
19 After a 51 day siege in Waco, Texas, the Branch Dividian compound
goes up in flames, killing the cult members. (1993)
20 Two teenage boys go on a shooting rampage in Columbine High school
in Littleton, Colorado. One teacher and 12 students are killed. (1999)
25 Delegates from 45 countries meet in San Fransisco to organize the
United Nations. (1945)
27 Senior citizens take note, the first Social Security checks were
distributed on this day in. (1937)
29 Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, N.J. patents the zipper. (1913)
Here are the Holidays Diva's are celebrating in April all over the
world:
1 April Fool's Day in United States
1 EOKA Day in Cyprus
1 Islamic Republic Day in Iran
1 Lazarouvane in Bulgaria
1 Regency Exchange in San Marino
2 Pascua Florida Day in United States
3 Anniversary of the 2nd Republic in Guinea
4 National Day in Senegal
5 Arbor Day in Korea, South
5 Ching Ming Festival in China
5 Tomb Sweeping Day in Taiwan
5 Passover Begins
6 Chakri Memorial Day in Thailand
6 Patriots of Victory Day in Ethiopia
6 Uprising Day in Sudan
7 Death of Toussaint Louverture in Haiti
7 Motherhood and Beauty Day in Armenia
7 Women's Day in Mozambique
8 Family Day in South Africa
9 Bataan Day in Philippines
9 Day of Valor in Philippines
9 Martyrs' Day in Tunisia
9 Good Friday for Christian's around the world
11 Anniversary of the Battle of Rivas in Costa Rica
11 Easter Sunday for Christian's around the world
12 Songkron Day in Thailand
13 National Day in Chad
13 Traditional Khmer New Year in Cambodia
13 Passover Ends
14 Bengali New Year in Bangladesh
14 Day of the Americas in Honduras
14 Pan American Day in United States
14 Youth Day in Angola
15 Joe de Diego's Birthday in Puerto Rico
16 Qana Memorial Day in Lebanon
17 FAO Day in Iraq
17 Independence Day in Syria
18 Health Day in Kiribati
18 Independence Day in Zimbabwe
19 Independence Day in Venezuela
19 Landing Day of the 33 Orientales in Uruguay
19 Patriot's Day in United States
19 Patriot's Day in United States
19 Republic Day in Sierra Leone
21 San Jacinto Day in United States
21 Tiradentes Day in Brazil
22 Earth Day in United States
22 Heroes' Day in Sri Lanka
22 Oklahoma Day in United States
23 Children's Day in Turkey
23 National Sovereignty Day in Turkey
24 Genocide Memorial Day in Armenia
25 Anniversary of the Revolution in Portugal
25 Anzac Day in Australia
25 Anzac Day in Cook Islands
25 Anzac Day in New Zealand
25 Anzac Day in Tonga
25 Anzac Day in Western Samoa
25 Liberation Day in Italy
25 Liberation Day in Portugal
25 National Flag Day in Swaziland
25 Sinai Liberation Day in Egypt
26 Confederate Memorial Day in United States
26 Confederate Memorial Day in United States
26 Confederate Memorial Day in United States
26 Confederate Memorial Day in United States
27 Freedom Day in South Africa
27 Independence Day in Sierra Leone
27 Independence Day in Togo
27 National Resistance Day in Slovenia
27 Republic Day in South Africa
28 Secretaries Day in United States
28 Sham El Nassim in Egypt
28 Union Day in Tanzania
29 Greenery Day in Japan
30 Arbor Day in United States
30 Birthday of HM the Queen in Netherlands
30 Dutch Queen's Birthday in Netherlands Antilles
30 Liberation of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam
30 Queen Beatrice's Birthday in Netherlands Antilles
30 Queen's Day in Aruba
30 The Queen's Birthday and Rincon's Day in Netherlands Antilles
30 Valborg/Spring Festival in Sweden
Is Your Birthday in April?
One of these famous or infamous people may share your day. Also here
are your astrological signs, birthstone and flower.
Astrological Signs For April:
Aries: March 21 - April 19
Taurus: April 20 - May 20
April's Birthstone: Diamond
April's Flower: Sweet Pea, Daisy
The Sweet Pea, which means "I think of thee."
Famous April Birthday's:
1 Lon Chaney
Ali MacGraw
Jane Powell
Debbie Reynolds
2 Hans Christian Andersen
Dana Carvey
Buddy Ebsen
Marvin Gaye
Sir Alec Guinness
Emmylou Harris
Reggie Smith
Jack Webb
3 Alec Baldwin, 1958
Marlon Brando
Doris Day
Washington Irving
George Jessel
Marsha Mason, 1942
Eddie Murphy, 1961
Wayne Newton, 1961
Tony Orlando
David Hyde Pierce, 1959
Sally Rand
4 Robert Downey Jr.
5 Bette Davis
Gregory Peck
Colin Powell
Spencer Tracy
6 Ivan Dixon (Hogan's Heroes) 1930
Merle Haggart
Marilu Henner
Michelle Phillips
Andre Previn
Billy Dee Williams
7 Francis Ford Coppolla
Russell Crowe, 1964
Tony Dorsett
David Frost
James Garner
Billy Holliday
Wayne Rogers
William Wordsworth
8 Betty Ford
Catfish Hunter
Julian Lennon
Mary Pickford
9 Hugh Hefner
Dennis Quaid
10 Chuck Conners
Harry Morgan
Omar Sharif
11 Joel Grey
Ethel Kennedy
Louise Lasser
12 Tiny Tim
Billy Vaughn
13 Butch Cassidy
Thomas Jefferson
Rick Schroder, 1970
F.W. Woolworth
14 Sarah Michelle Gellar, 1977
Brad Garrett, 1960
Loretta Lynn
Pete Rose
Anthony Perkins
Rod Steiger
15 Leonardo Da Vinci, 1452
Elizabeth Montgomery
Emma Thompson, 1959
16 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Edie Adams
Charlie Chaplin
Diane Krall, 1964
Martin Lawrence, 1965
Henry Mancini
Dusty Springfield
Peter Usinov
Bobby Vinton
Wilbur Wright
17 Jennifer Garner, 1972
William Holden
Nikita Krushchev
J.P. Morgan
Harry Reasoner
18 Melissa Joan Hart, 1976
Hayley Mills
Conan O'Brien, 1963
James Woods, 1947
19 Don Adams
Kate Hudson, 1979
Ashley Judd, 1968
Jayne Mansfield
Dudley Moore
Hugh O'Brian
Dick Sargent, 1933
20 Jessica Lang
Ryan O'Neal
21 Tony Danza
Charles Grodin
Queen Elizabeth II
Anthony Quinn
22 Eddie Albert
Glen Campbell
Peter Frampton
Jack Nicholson, 1937
Aaron Spelling
23 Valeri Bertinelli, 1960
David Birney
James Buchanan
Shirley Temple Black
Sandra Dee
Melinda Kanakaredes, 1967
Lee Majors
Roy Orbison
William Shakespeare, 1564
Herve Villachaize
24 Jill Ireland
Shirley MacLaine, 1934
Barbra Streisand, 1942
25 Ella Fitzgerald
Edward R. Murrow
Al Pacino, 1940
Talia Shire
26 Alan Arkin
Carol Burnett, 1933
Bobby Rydell
27 Judy Carne
Sheena Easton
Ulysses S. Grant
Coretta Scott King, 1927
Casey Kasem, 1932
Jack Klugman
Walter Lantz
28 Lionel Barrymore
Jay Leno, 1950
Ann-Margaret
James Monroe
29 Andre Agassi, 1970
Duke Ellington
William Randolph Hearst
Michelle Pfeiffer, 1958
Jerry Seinfeld, 1954
Carnie Wilson, 1968
30 Eve Arden
Jill Clayburgh
Cloris Leachman
Willie Nelson, 1933
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