Welcome April

As we welcome April, which in the Northern Hemisphere is generally known for the start of warmer weather, many will also be looking forward to celebrating / observing Easter.

Easter for the year 2021 is celebrated/observed on Sunday, April 4th. Easter also called Resurrection Sunday or Pascha is one of the most important days in the Christian faith.

Many will also be hoping the Easter bunny will make an appearance!

The story of the Easter Bunny is thought to have become common in the 19th Century. Rabbits usually give birth to a big litter of babies (called kittens), so they became a symbol of new life. Legend has it that the Easter Bunny lays, decorates and hides eggs as they are also a symbol of new life. This is why some children might enjoy Easter egg hunts as part of the festival. It doesn't do all the work alone though! In Switzerland, Easter eggs are delivered by a cuckoo and in parts of Germany by a fox.

image from here

We know April is the fourth month of the year, but that’s only by the Gregorian calendar that we adhere to now. It was previously the fifth month in the earlier Julian calendar.

April also only had 29 days, but a 30th day was added when Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar.

In the Southern Hemisphere, April is the seasonal equivalent to October.

No one is sure how the month ended up with its name, but we do know the Romans named it “Aprillis.”

The etymology behind the word “April” comes from the verb “aperire,” which means “to open.” It’s commonly believed that the word refers to the season of trees and flowers begin to “open” or bloom.

Those who were born in April have a diamond as their birthstone, which represents innocence.

Their birth flower is either a Daisy or a Sweet Pea.

There are two zodiac signs in April. Aries, which is until April 19th, and Taurus, which is April 20th and onwards.

Of course, one of the most well-known dates of April, is April Fools’ Day on the 1st of the month. No one is sure where this originated from, but some believe it to be inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer’s story in “Canterbury Tales” called “Nun’s Priest’s Tale.” 

Whatever you plan to do during the month of April, I hope it will be a good month for you. 

Easter Egg Anyone ?

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Please note, not all recipe suggestions may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan