April 1st The origin of April Fools Day is rather uncertain.
However, the common belief holds that during the reformation of the calendar
the date for the New Year was moved from April 1 to January 1. During that time
in history, there was no television and no radio, so word spread slowly. There
were also those who chose to simply ignore the change altogether and those
who merely forgot. These people were considered “fools.” Invitations to
non-existent parties and other practical jokes were played on them. Some
suggest that the origin began with the celebrations of the Spring Equinox.
While some believe it has to do a Roman festival known as Hilaria, the end of
the Celtic new year.
“All Fools’ Day” is practiced in many parts of the world with practical
jokes, hoaxes, and sending people on a fool’s errand. In Scotland, April Fools
Day lasts 48 hours. Foolish people are called gowks, an extinct cuckoo bird.
“Hunting the gowk” refers to a traditional prank played on foolish people. Day
two is know as Taily Day, and pranks involving the posterior are played.
April 2 Also known as Ramazan and Ramadhaan,
Ramadan commemorates the first revelation of the Holy Quran to Muhammad
according to Islamic belief. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar
and begins with the sighting of the crescent moon after a new moon. It’s
observed with a month of fasting, giving alms, prayers, reading the Quran,
abstaining from bad deeds, and staying humble.
In 610, Allah gave the first chapters of the Quran
to the Prophet Muhammad. It’s told that Muhammad was alone near Mecca when the
Angel Gabriel came to him. The angel told Muhammad to read but Muhammad was
unable to read. The angel taught Muhammad some verses over the next ten days.
These verses are known as the Holy Quran.
The last ten days of Ramadan are a time of the
greatest devotion. Some Muslims spend those days in a mosque. Lailat ul-Qadr or
the Night of Power is the night that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet
Mohammad. It’s generally the 27th night of the month. It’s a night of blessings
and mercy from Allah, sins are forgiven, and supplications are accepted.
The end of Ramadan is a joyous occasion known as
Eid al-Fitr, typically lasting three days. Muslims are not allowed to fast this
day. It’s celebrated with special prayers, feasts, sweets, and gift giving.
Muslims in Turkey celebrate the end of Ramadan with Seker Bayrami, The Candy
Festival. New clothes are worn, gifts are given, and families gather at the
home of the eldest family member. Candy, small cakes, sweetened coffee, and
fruits are served.
April 4 ands 5 The Cold Food Festival is known as
the Hanshi Festival in China, the Hansik Festival in South Korea, and Tết Hàn
Thực in Vietnam.
The Hanshi Festival, China. The Hanshi Festival is
an ancient Chinese holiday that’s no longer celebrated. However, the activities
and traditional foods have been incorporated into the Qingming Festival or
Tomb-Sweeping Festival. The origin comes dates back to the 2nd century. It was
taboo to start a fire during this time. During this time of year, the spring is
dry, making things ignite easily. There was a ritual putting out last year’s
fire for cooking, having no-fire days, and starting a new fire. The no-fire
days lead to cold foods. Additional activities included visiting ancestral
tombs, cockfighting, and beating blankets.
April 15 Passover or Pesach commemorates the
liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. It’s observed from
the 15th to the 22nd (eight days) of the Hebrew month of Nissan (March or
April). During this time, leavened foods are avoided, and Seder meals include
four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of
the Exodus.
After decades of slavery, God sent Moses to the
Pharaoh with a message, “Send forth My people, so that they may serve Me.” The
Pharaoh paid no heed to this. In return, God sent ten plagues: water into
blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, diseased livestock, boils, hail, locusts,
darkness, and death of the firstborn. On the eve of the last plague, the
Israelites marked their doors with lambs’ blood so that the avenging angel
would “pass over” each Jewish household.
Pesach, which means to pass over, refers to this
passing over on what is now Passover eve. The Pharaoh finally released his
former slaves, chasing them out of the land. The Israelites left in such a
hurry that the bread they baked as provisions did not have time to rise.
April 17 Easter is an important religious event for
Christians. They celebrate the day that Jesus rose from the dead, three days
after his crucifixion. It’s the culmination of events during Holy Week
beginning with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday reflects the return of Jesus to
Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Christ, and Good
Friday remembers the crucifixion of Jesus. Easter Sunday celebrates his
resurrection after his death. Easter falls on the first Sunday on or following
the spring Equinox after the full moon (March or April, occasionally slipping
into May for Eastern Orthodox). The date has been calculated in this way since
325 CE.
Many non-Christians also celebrate this holiday,
focusing on ancient customs and traditions as well as welcoming spring. Easter,
like Christmas, is a blend of paganism and Christianity. The word Easter is
derived from Eostre (also known as Ostara), an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess. She
symbolized the rebirth of the day at dawn and the rebirth of life in the
spring.
Today, children wake up to find that the Easter
Bunny has hidden a basket filled with candy and toys. Children colour and
decorate hard-boiled eggs either on Easter or the day before. Egg hunts are
popular at home as well as community egg hunts at the local park. At home, the
eggs made be the hard-boiled decorated eggs or plastic eggs filled with treats.
Community egg hunts typically use plastic eggs or chocolate eggs spread out in
a grassy area. Easter dinner is a feast with lamb, ham, fish and spring
vegetables, potatoes, and special bread. Deviled eggs are a favoured appetizer.
Easter brunch is also quite popular. Christians might also attend church
services.
April 22 The first Earth Day was held on April 22,
1970. The goal was to set aside one day to look at the environment we live in,
promote ecology, and bolster awareness of global air, water, and soil
pollution. Today over 140 countries participate in Earth Day.
US Senator Gaylord Nelson was the driving force
behind this day after seeing the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa
Barbara, CA, in 1969. Inspired by the teach-ins dealing with the Vietnam War,
the first Earth Day drew 20 million participants. The American Heritage
Magazine called it “one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of
democracy.”
On April 22, fairs and outdoor events are held to
encourage people to help our planet thrive. Individuals make special efforts to
conserve water, paper, and electricity.
Take time this day to learn what you can do to
conserve energy and reduce, reuse, and recycle products in your neighbourhood.
Although Earth Day is celebrated once a year, we encourage you to celebrate the
gifts our planet has to offer every day from the little wildflower growing
outside your home to the black sand beaches of Hawaii and the majesty of the
giant sequoia and redwood trees.
April 25 ANZEC Day ANZAC is an acronym for Australia,
New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Day is a national day in Australia and New
Zealand. Originally, it honoured those who fought in Gallipoli during World War
I. Today, it honours all soldiers who have died in the war.
Great Britain joined the war against Germany on
August 4, 1914. Australia sided with Britain and was ready to fight. In 1915,
an attack was planned on Turkey through the Dardenelles with hopes of providing
safe sea passage to Russia. The British Navy attacked first. They were defeated
and casualties were high. Then, on April 25, 1915, the battered British
soldiers, the French troops, and ANZAC stormed the shores of Gallipoli. The
Turks were fierce and forewarned by the previous attack, but when the dust finally
settled a foothold had been established at what is now known as the ANZAC Cove.
The two days that followed were bloody and savage
as they held on to the foothold. After a brief reprieve, the fighting continued
with heavy casualties on both sides. Finally, in December an evacuation was
ordered.
After eight months of fighting, ANZAC suffered a loss of 8,587 soldiers and 19,367 wounded. But with their heads held high the weary soldiers returned to Europe singing:
“We are the ragtime army the A.N.Z.A.C.
We cannot shoot, we won’t salute, what bloody use are we?”
Today, flags are flown at half-mast until noon,
then they are raised high until the end of the business day. Wreaths of poppies
are displayed at memorials. –During WWI the trenches could be seen across
fields of brilliant poppies. Wearing a sprig of rosemary on your lapel or
pinned over your heart symbolizes the commemoration of deceased soldiers.
Everyone partakes of an ANZAC biscuit or two.
ANZAC Biscuits
makes: 2-1/2 dozen
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1 cup rolled oats
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoon golden syrup (or dark corn syrup)
2 tablespoons water
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease cookie sheets
or line with parchment paper. Combine flour, baking soda, sugar, coconut, oats,
ginger, and salt. Melt butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir the corn
syrup and water into the butter. Stir butter/syrup mixture into the dry
ingredients. Drop by the spoonful on to cookie sheets about 2″ apart. Bake
12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
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