Daily Archives: April 1, 2021
According to the English poet T.S. Eliot, April is a turning point, at which the past and the future are seen as one; when, in northern climes at least, Lilac bushes burst into bloom on dusty waste ground or beside railway tracks as the rain brings to life new growth.
- Theme: Beginnings
- Plant Energy: Daisy – for a fresh start and new projects.
- Crystal Power: Diamond – for clarity and empowering goals.
The month was named Aprilis by the Romans, but the origins of the name are still obscure. The traditional belief of its origin stems from the Latin verb aperire, “to open,” an allusion to trees and flowers beginning to open or to flower from buds.
Since some of the Roman months were named in honor of divinities, and as April was sacred to the goddess Venus, it has also been suggested that Aprilis was originally Venus’s mouth, from an ancient combination of her Greek goddess name, Aphrodite, to arrive at her springtime aspect as Aphrilis.
As the sun continues to make its way through the zodiac, it stays in Aries until about the 20th. The first part of the month is still about a feisty, “let’s get things done” energy. This period is about action and is filled with self-motivated people who are as self-centered and conceited as the fiery influence of Mars.
But as the sun moves across the cusp of Taurus, the energy changes to that of Venus. Venus rules Taurus, complementing this earth sign’s symbols of beauty, vanity, good looks, attraction, seduction, feminine wiles, and the concerns of the body and sexuality.
In the late Middle Ages throughout the fashionable European courts, favored sorcerers and witches concocted aphrodisiacs, potions, poisons, particularly in Aprils as it was thought to be a month auspicious for providing male heirs.
The tradition of celebrating virility, along with the magickal generation of sexual stamina and subsequent fertility, were themes based on the ancient fertility festivities of pagan Europe as the first of May approached.
The first few weeks of April were ruled by the virile Ram God, followed by the fertile Cow Goddess, both symbols of various pagan cultures and still invoked by modern day witches. This is why April is a month when desires quicken, the heat rises, and the tonic is needed to leave memories behind and start afresh.
Spells and rituals for April, therefore, tend to be all about moving on and beginning a new way of living, loving, or just being.
From: Spells For A Magical Year
There is a lot to celebrate in April. This is a list of pretty much everything that goes on during the fourth month of the year. Many of these dates change from year to year. The days that change are marked with this » symbol.
April Lore and General Info
Astronomical Events
- 11 » New Moon
- 16 thru 25: Lyrids Meteor Shower
- 26 » Full Moon – Wind Moon, Supermoon
Astrological Events
Depending on which astrological system you adhere to, these are the signs that show up in April of 2021. Be aware that some of these dates will vary from year to year. Unlike the Sun signs which might just shift by 1 or 2 days, the dates of the various Moon signs will vary widely from year to year. The same holds true for the Chinese Zodiac. The Celtic Tree Signs are based on an arbitrary system and stay the same from year to year.
Western Astrology
The April Sun begins in Aries and finishes up in Taurus:
- Mar 20 thru Apr 19 » Sun in Aries
- Apr 19 thru May 20 » Sun in Taurus
The 2021 April Moon cycles through the signs as follows.
- Apr 1 – Apr 3 » Moon in Sagittarius
- Apr 3 – Apr 5 » Moon in Capricorn
- Apr 5 – Apr 7 » Moon in Aquarius
- Apr 7 – Apr 10 » Moon in Pisces
- Apr 10 – Apr 12 » Moon in Aries
- Apr 12 – Apr 15 » Moon in Taurus
- Apr 15 – Apr 17 » Moon in Gemini
- Apr 17 – Apr 20 » Moon in Cancer
- Apr 20 – Apr 22 » Moon in Leo
- Apr 22 – Apr 24 » Moon in Virgo
- Apr 24 – Apr 26 » Moon in Libra
- Apr 26 – Apr 28 » Moon in Scorpio
- Apr 28 – Apr 30 » Moon in Sagittarius
- Apr 30 – May 2 » Moon in Capricorn
You will notice that the Moon might begin the day in one sign and by the end of the day may have moved into another sign, so timing matters if you are wanting to be precise.
The Celtic Tree Signs in April:
- Mar 18 to Apr 14 – Alder Tree Month
- Apr 15 to May 12 – Willow Tree Month
The Alternative Celtic Zodiac is as follows:
- Rowan: April 1 – Apr 10
- Maple: April 11 – Apr 20
- Walnut: April 21 – Apr 30
The Chinese Calendar and Zodiac
We are currently in the year of the Ox (sometimes referred to as the Cow). Each Month is also assigned a specific animal. Here’s what shows up in April 2021.
- Rabbit: Mar 5 – Apr 3 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
- Rabbit: Mar 13 – Apr 11 (Lunar Calendar – 2nd Lunar Month)
- Dragon: Apr 4 – May 4 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
- Dragon: Apr 12 – May 11 (Lunar Calendar – 3rd Lunar Month)
Note: The traditional Chinese Astrology birth chart is built by the Chinese Stem Branch Calendar, not the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which I think is really confusing. Because of a difference in time zones, the lunar months will have different pattern between China and the USA
Lucky and Unlucky Days
You might want to plan moving, traveling, major purchases, court dates, and weddings around these dates, avoiding the unlucky days and utilizing the lucky ones.
- These are the lucky days in April:
6, 15, 16, 20 and 28. - These are the unlucky days in April:
10, 17, 18, 24 and 25.
Fatal Days
The tenth and the eleventh too,
Are ready death’s fell ‘work to do.
Holidays and Holy Days
Many of the holidays begin on the eve of the night before and end on the eve of the day of. It’s also important to remember that the dates of archaic festivals and feast days may vary widely depending on the source.
April 1
- 1: April Fool’s Day – All Fool’s Day
- 1: Loki’s Day
- 1: The Veneralia – the festival of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty
- 1 » Maundy Thursday
April 2
- 2 » Good Friday
- 2 » Lord’s Evening Meal
April 3
- 3 » Lazarus Saturday
April 4
- 4 » Easter Sunday – Easter Fires are lit
- 4 » Clear and Bright (Chinese Farmer’s Calendar)
- 4 thru 6: Cold Food Festival or Hanshi
- 4 thru 10: Megalesia – Celebrates the Mother of the Gods
April 5
- 5: Ching Ming – Tomb Sweeping Day (China) – sometimes falls on April 5
- 5: Lady Luck Day – the festival Fortuna, the goddess of good fortune
- 5 » Easter Monday – Dyngus Day
April 6
- 6 » Dakini Day (Tibetan)
- 6: Birthday of Mother Earth – Gudi Padwa also known as Gudi Padva, is the traditional New Year for the people of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
- 6: Fête of the Little Boats
- 6: National Tartan Day
- 6: Chakri Day
April 7
- 7 » Day of Ekadashi (Hindu)
April 8
- 8: Hana-Matsuri – Japanese Flower Festival to honor the Buddha’s birthday.
- 8: Geranium Day – England
April 9
April 10
April 12
- 12 » The Noumenia
- 12 thru May 12 » Ramadan
- 12 thru 19: Ludi Cereales
April 13
- 13 » Celebrating The Agathos Daimon
- 13 thru 16: The Songkran Festival
April 14
- 14: Look Up At The Sky Day
- 14 » Galungan (Bali) – Represents the victory of Dharma (virtue) over Adharma (evil).
- 14 » Samjinnal – Korean holiday announcing the arrival of Spring
April 15
- 15: Fordicia – the festival of Tellus, the Roman earth goddess
- 15: Festival of Bast
April 17
- 17: Mahavir Jayanti
April 18
- 18 » Go Fly A Kite Day
April 19
- 19: Festival of Ceres ~ Last day of the Ludi Cereales
- 19 thru May 28: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
April 20
- 20 » Grain Rains (Chinese Farmer’s Calendar)
April 21
- 21: The Festival for the Pales Also held on July 7.
- 21: The legendary founding date of Rome.
April 22
- 22: Earth Day
- 22: Sham el-Nessim – Egyptian Holiday celebrating the first day of Spring
- 22: Festival of Ishtar
- 22: Yggdrasil Day
April 23
- 23 » Day of Ekadashi (Hindu)
- 23 thru 25 » Whitby Goth Weekend
April 24
- 24 » Kuningan (Bali)- At the holy spring temple Tirta Empul, people partake in a ritual purification, bathing in the spring.
April 25
- 25: The Robigalia – the festival of Robigus, a Roman corn god.
April 26
- 26 » Boat Blessing – See also Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (June 14)
April 27
- 27 » Hanuman Jayanti – Birthday of the monkey God
April 28
- 28 thru May 1: The Floralia
April 30
- 30: May Day Eve – Walpurgisnacht
- 30: Beltane Fire Festival
- 30: Theravada New Year
- 30: Festival of Belenus – the Celtic god of fire and the sun.
- 30: Beltane (May Eve)
Saint Days
There is a surprising amount of magick associated with Saint days. This is a very short list of the Saint days in April, there are many many more. As time goes by I may end up listing them all, but for now, this is what I have.
- 16: The Feast day of St. Bernadette
- 23: St. George’s Day
- 30: St. James the Great Day
Recipes For April
- Classic Krasnye Blini – Easter, Ostara, and the Vernal Equinox
- Simnel Cake – Easter, Ostara, the Vernal Equinox, and Mother’s Day
- Elderflower Fritters – Beltane, May Day, and The Floralia
- Farls – For Beltane – Beltane
Many more seasonal recipes, including recipes for new and full moon ceremonies, ancient Greek and Roman holidays, Asian festivals and etc can be found here: Seasonal Recipes.
Notes:
Any April lore, almanac, astrological, and celebration dates that have been shared after this post was published can be found by searching the April posts to see what’s new.
A lot of work went into this post. It was compiled from various sources by Shirley Twofeathers for The Pagan Calendar, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
I think it's time to go shopping... maybe even buy some really cool stuff at my online shops!!
