April from the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry

The Romans gave this month the Latin name Aprilis but the derivation of this name is uncertain.  April was sacred to the goddess Venus and it is believed that Aprilis was originally her month Aphrilis, from her equivalent Greek goddess name Aphrodite (Aphros), or from the Etruscan name Apru.

Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty, known also as the Roman goddess Venus.

The Anglo-Saxons called April Oster-monath or Eostur-monath, which some say is the root of the word Easter.

As for April Fool’s Day, there are several theories about the origin. The most popular explanation is the switch to the Gregorian calendar. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian date. Prior to that, the new year was celebrated for eight days, from March 25 until April 1. Those who did not adapt the new calendar system, or did not learn about it, continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on “fool’s errands” or trying to trick them into believing something false.

31-Point-Plan

And to keep with my theme thus far this year, I tried to think of something having to do with “love and beauty” – not an easy thing to draw.  Then I remembered that April 1st is the day my cat was born.  So for lack of anything very clever, I simply drew my cat and flowers and it’s at least “spring-like.”  This one is not as satisfying as prior months have been, but it’s as good as it gets at the moment. 2014 31-Point-Plans.

HAPPY SPRING!