April - A New Month Begins

April 1st to blog I must
Whether it's little, or
Whether it's much
Could be silly
Could be wise
Always truthful
Never lies
North or South
East or West
As the crow flies
I'll do my best!

April. The derivation of the name (Latin Aprilis) is uncertain. The traditional etymology is from the Latin aperire, "to open," in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers begin to "open," which is supported by comparison with the modern Greek use of opening for spring.
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Since most of the Roman months were named in honor of divinities, and as April was sacred to Venus, the Festum Beneris et Fortunae Virlis being held on the first day, it has been suggested that Aprilis was originally her month Aphrilis, from her Greek name Aphrodite, or from the Etuscan name Apru. Jacob Grimm suggest the name of a hypothetical god or hero, Aper or Aprus.
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Again we see the influence of the ruler of this world in giving honor to pagan deities. May we continue to show honor to Jehovah the God of truth, by sanctifying his name.
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Something interesting about April is that it starts on the same day of the week as July in all years, and January in leap years.
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Have you ever wondered how April Fools Day originated, here is some interesting thoughts.
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No one really knows when this custom began but it has been kept for hundreds of years.
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The First of April some do say
Is set apart for All Fools Day;
But why the people call it so,
Not I, nor they themselves do know.
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Unlike most of the other non-foolish 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.
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Change of Calendars
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One Theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian calendar, which it replaced.
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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.
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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.
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Britain didn't accept the new calendar until 1752.
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In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the time of Noah. According to an English newspaper article published April 13, 1789, the day had its origin when Noah sent his dove off too early, before the waters had receded; he did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April, this seems to be a popular Jewish custom for making "fools" on the First of April.
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In the Babylonian and Assyrian Empires, the King would often be spanked by the High priest to remind him of how much of a fool he was in comparison to the gods.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!"
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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!
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As you can see from this blog there are many different ideas and customs as to the origin of this day. I wanted to see what information there was in the Watchtower on this day, but they only had one reference dated March 22, 1947 Awake: page 27-28. I don't have it. Does anyone have it? I'd love to see it. Let me know.
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I will end this blog with Sara Coleridge "The Months" poem for April.
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"April brings the primrose sweet.
Scatters daisies at our feet! "

This is Raven - As the crow flies