April is the fifth month of the year according to the modern Gregorian calendar. The name April comes from the Roman name Aprilispossibly derived from the Latin verb aperire, to open.
Other theories suggest that the name was derived from the name Aphrodite, via the Etruscan equivalent Apru.
The month of April was sacred to Venus and kicked off with her festival the Veneralia.
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Other Names for the Month
Anglo-Saxon Oster-monath or Eostur-monath, it is sacred to the Goddess Eostre.
The Sun in April
In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox takes place in March, the month prior to April, the days are steadily growing in length and there is more sunshine than darkness, a great relief after a long, cold winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, just the opposite is taking place and preparations for winter are beginning.
At the start of April, the Sun is in the sign of Aries and it will move into Taurus around the 21st of the month.
The Moon in April
The new moon in April will occur within the zodiac sign of the sun. If the new moon occurs before the 20th, it will be in Aries. After the 21st or so, the new moon will occur in Taurus.
The full moon in April may be called The Pink Moon, the Phlox Moon, the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, the Planter’s Moon, the Peony Moon, the Flower Moon, the Wildcat Moon, the Growing Moon, the Seed Moon, the Awakening Moon or the Fish Moon.
If this full moon takes place before the 20th of April, it will be in Libra.
After about the 21st or so, it will be in Scorpio.
More April Lore
Important Days in April
- April 1st All Fool’s Day
- April 1st Veneralia
- April 4-10 Megalesia
- April 15 Fordicalia
- April 15 Sumersdag or Sigrblot
- April 19th Cerealia
- April 21st Parilia
- April 22nd Yggdrasil Day
- April 23rd Vinalia Prioria
- April 25th Robigalia
- April 27- May 2 Floralia
- April 30th Walpurgis Night
