Today is Arbor Day: 1 of Many Significant Holidays in April
There may be more April holidays than you think. Can you name them all? Most people think of Easter or Passover when they think of the April holidays. However, there are many more, such as Arbor Day, that are celebrated in New Jersey and throughout the world.
As you know, Easter landed in March this year. However, that has only happened seven times over the past one hundred years. This year it just barely fell on the calendar in March on the thirty-first. So Easter Monday was in April this year.
Passover Holiday
Passover starts in the evening of the twenty-second of this year and runs through the thirtieth. All Jewish holidays begin and end at sundown rather than at midnight like other holidays.
Passover celebrates the freeing of enslaved Israelites, led by Moses from Egypt. During the Seder meals, Jewish people only eat kosher food that is specific to the holiday of Passover.
Ramadan Holiday
The Ramadan holiday is the Islamic holy month that’s celebrated by the Muslim religion. This year it began in March but ended in April. It’s on the same date every year on the Muslim calendar, but not on the Gregorian calendar. In 2010 Ramadan began in August.
Islamic holidays also begin and end at sundown. There are food restrictions with the holiday as well. Those who observe are expected to refrain from food and drink every day of the holiday during daylight hours.
You may be wondering if it’s appropriate to wish someone a “happy Ramadan.” The most common greeting is “Ramadan Mubarek” which translates to either “happy Ramadan” or “blessed Ramadan.” You can also say “Ramadan Kareem” which means “may Ramadan be generous to you.”
Earth Day Holiday
Earth Day is always on April 22nd and happened earlier this week. According to EarthDay.org “Earth Day is a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and brighter future.” It’s filled with worldwide events that are aimed at cleaning up and preserving the earth for future generations. Some of us may choose to plant a tree on Earth Day, however, that is something that is traditionally done on Arbor Day.
Arbor Day Holiday
Simply stated, Arbor Day is a holiday to plant trees and to recognize their importance. According to Davey.com we should try to plant trees that are “resilient to climate change.” Their website states, “With the world’s climate changing fast, we now need to consider whether the trees we plant today will be able to withstand the changing conditions in our gardens over the next 30, 50 or even 100 years.”
Solar Eclipse
Technically, it’s not a holiday, but the Solar eclipse occurred in April this year as well. Plus we experienced an Earthquake in New Jersey, which is an extremely rare occurrence. Plus, we can’t forget April Fools Day, although many may want to.
Next month continues the celebrations with Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day.
