April is a month of openings, the budding of flowers and trees and spiritual cleansing.

Astrological signs: Aries and Taurus; birthstone: diamond; colors: yellow and red; flowers: daisy and sweet pea; bird: black-capped chickadee; trees: rowan, maple, and walnut; days observed: April Fool’s Day, Palm Sunday, Passover, Good Friday, Easter, Earth Day, Administrative Professional Day and Arbor Day.

Aries is the first sign in the zodiac and its symbol is the ram. Aries in the element of frre. Arians are determined and passionate people. Taurus is the second sign in the Zodiac and its symbol is the bull. Taurus people are reliable, practical, ambitious and sensual, they have an eye for beauty. They like the pleasing and soothing things is life, such as a good meal, fine wine and simple pleasures. The good life in all its guises are heaven on Earth to the Taurus-born.

April has the diamond for its birthstone, which symbolizes everlasting love and was once thought to bring courage. It’s deemed the “king of all birthstones.”

The colors for April are yellow and red. Yellow means joy, happiness, intellect and energy. Red means energy, danger, strength, determination as well as passion, desire and love, both colors go with the birthstone diamond perfectly.

April’s flowers are daisy and the sweet pea. The daisy symbolizes cheerfulness, innocence, purity and beauty, while the sweet pea symbolizes pleasure and good-bye.

The bird for April is the black-capped chickadee and it symbolizes cheerfulness, the seeker of truth and sacred spiral. It relates to being optimistic even through difficult times.

April 1-10 is the Rowan tree, commonly known as the mountain ash. It symbolizes protection, expression and connection. April 11-20 is the maple tree, which symbolizes generosity, balance, promise and practicality. April 21-30 is the walnut tree, the symbol for clarity and focus.

The first day observed in the month of April is April Fool’s Day, although not a national holiday, it’s a day of pranks being pulled on people. It’s a day of fun. It started way back in the 1500s, by playing harmless pranks one’s neighbor. Some historians speculate that this day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1545. People failing to recognize this change became the brunt of jokes and hoaxes.

Palm Sunday, Passover, Good Friday and Easter are all days of spiritual cleansing.

Another day observed in April is Earth Day, which was originated to help teach people how they can help the planet. They can do such things as pick up trash, plant trees or vegetable gardens, which not only help our environment but beautify the planet.

An observance but not a public holiday in the United States is Administrative Professionals Day, also known as Secretaries Day or Admin Day. It’s a day to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists and other administrative support professionals for all the hard work they do and to show appreciation.

The last day observed in the month of April is Arbor Day. This is a day to plant new trees as well as to bring awareness to help conserve and protect existing trees and forests. Fun things to do on this day, plant a tree, make a donation to help the rainforest and to participate in a recycling program to help protect trees.

April is the month when the professional baseball season begins in the United States.

The word April is rooted in the Latin Aprilis, which is derived from the Latin aperire meaning “to open,” which could be a reference to the blossoming of the flowers and trees, a common occurrence throughout the month of April in the Northern Hemisphere. April is thought to be named after the Greek goddess of love “Aphrodite,” which is also the Roman goddess Venus.

— Compiled by Bonnie Playle of Soldotna