April - New Years in April People from Southeast Asia clebrate this time of year. The solar new year are based on the position of the sun in the sky. Because their calander is based on the movement of the moon and stars as well as the sun they celebrate their solor new year in dim-April.

April 2 - Sizdeh Bedar (The 13th day after 'Now Ruz' [in March] marks the end of the celebration) ,also a day to play tricks on your family and friends.

April 2 - International Children's Book Day, the birthdate of Hans Christian Anderson.

April 4 - "The Mail" Day or The Pony Express. Beginning April 4, 1860, and continuing through November of the next year (but no longer, because at that point the telegraph took over), young Americans carried the mail on the overland route between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California: the Pony Express! Riders had to be young and hardy, and weigh less than 125 pounds. (It was also strongly suggested they have no families to worry about.) They were hardy, all right! And young, too - the youngest is said to have been only 11.

April 6 - Hop, Skip, And Jump Day. In 1896 in Athens, Greece, the ancient custom of holding athletic contests between political/geographical entities was revived with the "I Olympiad" - the first modern Olympic Games. Fourteen countries participated in 43 events. The very first one was the "Hop, Skip, and Jump" contest; it was won by James B. Connolly of Boston, Massachusetts.

April 21 - Toonik Time - Iqaluit in the Northwest Territories, means Carnival time.

April 21 - Kindergarten Day. This is the birth anniversary of Friedrich Froebel, who was born at Oberwiessbach, Thuringia, in 1782. He actually invented the kindergarten! In 1837, he founded the very first one, at Blankenburg, Germany. He's the reason it has a German name.

April 23 - St.George's Day. The expression "By George" means "By St. George" He was a famous knight who slayed a dragon and saved a princess.

April 24 - Arbor Day. This all began when pioneers moving into Nebraska in the mid-nineteenth century found the plains quite devoid of trees. One couple, Mr. and Mrs. J. Sterling Morton, planted some just as soon as they could; and shrubs and flowers, too. Then Mr. Morton, who was the editor of Nebraska's first newspaper, used it as a means of encouraging others to do the same. Eventually, his influence growing, he had the opportunity to propose the first "Arbor Day" - a day to plant trees.

April 26 - Is It Raining Day? On this date in 1971, the heaviest rains ever fell in the Bahia district of Brazil. Would you believe 15" fell in one 24-hour period?

April 26 - Audubon's Birthday. He was born in Haiti on April 26, 1785, and died at New York City January 27, 1851. In between, he became a well-known American artist and naturalist, who gave us the marvelous "Birds of America" series of paintings.

April 29 - Bouncy Rubber Day. On this date in 1813, a patent for rubber was granted to J.F. Hummel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.