Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

If we pay close attention to the news, it can be disheartening as well as a message of gloom. But take heart — April is on its way, and with it, some days worth celebrating. And hopefully, more days than not will be wrapped in warmth and sunshine.

And, of course, April showers bring May flowers. But showers are far from the only notable happenings during the month of April.

Along with some showers, April ushers in some of the biggest holidays of the year — April Fools’ Day, Easter, Passover, Arbor Day and Earth Day.

Along with those marquee holidays, April brings a host of others, including fun observances like Find a Rainbow Day, World Party Day, Pajama Day, National Scrabble Day, Hairstylist Appreciation Day, Denim Day and Tweed Day, for starters.

There are also a variety of food holidays to savor, including Oatmeal Cookie Day, National Gummi Bear Day, Cherry Cheesecake Day, Deep Dish Pizza Day and Burrito Day, to name a few (days listed in the Chase Calendar of Events).

There are also more serious recognitions throughout the month, including Marine Mammal Rescue Day, National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, National Fun Day, as well as World Autism Awareness Day, Paraprofessional Appreciation Day and World Health Day.

Finally, you’ll also find a comprehensive rundown of monthly observances in April that cover stress and financial literacy to astronomy and jazz.

A lot of history occurred in the month of April. It’s hard to find another month that has had as many major American historical occurrences.

It was April 2, 1513, when Spanish explorer Ponce de León sighted Florida and claimed it for the Spanish crown. He named it La Florida in recognition of the verdant landscape and because it was the Easter season, which the Spaniards called Pascua Florida.

On April 3, 1849, the Pony Express began its run, going from St. Joseph, Mo., to Sacramento. It was in operation for only 18 months; nevertheless, the Pony Express has become synonymous with the Old West. With the Pony Express, mail could make 1,966 miles in 10 days. It takes about that long today using both planes and cars.

In more recent times, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn., by a sniper. He is best remembered for his “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington.

Other events worth remembering:
– The United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917.
– The Civil War ended April 9, 1865, when Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.
– The Civil War began April 12, 1861, at Fort Sumter, S.C.
– President Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. Lincoln died the next morning.
– On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank after striking an iceberg in the Atlantic, killing more than 500 passengers.
– The late-night ride of Paul Revere and William Dawes occurred on April 18, 1775.
– The Revolutionary War began in earnest April 19, 1775.
– George Washington became the first U.S. president on April 30, 1789.

April is filled with historical data. But perhaps the most celebrated holidays in April 2025 will be Good Friday, April 18, and Easter, on April 20.

It’s the season of the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, sunrise services, and most of all, the celebration of the death, burial and Resurrection of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.