April Holidays and Observances
With the arrival of spring, we observe Celebrate Diversity Month, World Autism Awareness Day, as well as several religious holidays.
Celebrate Diversity Month
April
April is Celebrate Diversity Month, a celebration that was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will gain a deeper understanding of each other. Learn more here.
World Autism Awareness Day
April 2
World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the world. One in 68 children have ASD, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Learn more here.
Ramadan
April 2-May 2
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. A commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. During Ramadan, adult Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, devoting themselves to prayer and recitation of the Quran, as well as acts of charity. Learn more here.
Good Friday
April 15
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, often coinciding with the Jewish observance of Passover. Members of many Christian denominations observe Good Friday with fasting and church services. Learn more here.
Easter
April 17
Easter is a Christian festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary. Customs observed by Christians and some non-Christians include egg hunting, the Easter Bunny and Easter Parades. There are also various traditional Easter foods that vary regionally. Learn more here.
Passover
April 15-23
One of the Jewish religion’s most sacred and widely-observed holidays, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites’ departure from ancient Egypt, which appears in the Hebrew Bible’s books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, among other texts. Jews observe the weeklong festival with a number of important rituals, including a traditional Passover meal known as a seder, the removal of leavened products from their home, the substitution of matzo for bread and the retelling of the exodus tale. Learn more here.
