April

Vaisakhi
Sikh festival and holiday (April 13, 1997, movable to June).

Another theory about the origins of April Fool's Day is based from an old French custom dating from the sixteenth century. During 1564 AD the French declared that the first day of the year would be January 1 as it previously it fell on March 25 (also known as 'Lady Day' and the Christian day of Christ's Resurrection). People in France use to give presents to their friends in March to celebrate the New Year but as March 25 fell in the period of Holy Week (Christian Easter Festival) then these celebrations were moved to take place a week later which then took it to April 1st. When the celebration of New Year was moved to January 1st then a custom arose in France that an individual should visit friends on April 1st to fool them into believing that it was the first day of the year. From this practice the concept possibly grew and spread across Europe and around the world.

It will probably never really be known where this custom originated for sure but it does allow people to share their sense of humour even if you may find the extreme practices of some people in other countries somewhat bizarre.

Celtic feast day of 'Tewdric', sixth century, Welsh prince who died from a head wound received at the Battle of Tintern between the Saxons and Celts, in 595. Much folklore surrounds Tewdric, and as with most notables of royal blood there are associations with animals. Upon his death, it was said that two stags (See Mystical WWW Mystic's Menagerie : Animal, Deer) drew the cart on which his body lay stopping at a well whilst his wounds were cleaned near Mathern. This symbolism reflects similar images referred to in the story of Nerthus, where all places at which the cart stopped were believed to bring peace and joy to all who passed by there. Mathern has ever since been a holy place.

Washington Irvine, writer, born this day in 1783.

Martin Luther King, the American Civil Rights Leader assassinated in 1968.

Celtic feast day of 'Gueryr'. Associated with Neot (31 July) as they are believed to be buried alongside each other. It is said that Alfred the Great regularly visited his shrine on Bodmin Moor, England.

'Tomb Sweeping Day' : Chinese day of remembrance.

Celtic feast day of 'Derfel', soldier, Abbot of Bardsey Island. Suggested to be one of King Arthur's knights. (See Mystical WWW Glastonbury for more information on Arthur).

Roman : third day of seven day dedication to 'Megalesia' (April 4 - 10).

Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate, born this day in 1906.

Celtic feast day of 'Brychan', associated to Gwynllyw Filwr (29 March), father of Gwladys. Reputed to be the King of Powys and it is said that Breconshire was given its name as a tribute to him. Reputed to have up to thirty-seven daughters and twenty-eight sons. One of his daughters was Endellion (29 April), another Juliot (16 June), also Nectan (7 June), Morwenna (5 July), Merthyr (23 August) Almedha (1 August), Wenna (18 October). Grand-father of Cadoc (25 September) and possibly of Keyne (8 October). Relative of Clydog (3 November).

Celtic feast day of 'Goran', also suggested to be 'Vuron', believed to be a hermit.

Celtic feast day of 'Brynach', sixth century Irish man who became a solitary hermit. Known to Brychan (6 April) and. associated with David (1 March). Reputed to have had many visions of angels.

USA : Astronaut's Day

Celtic feast day of 'Madrun', or 'Materiana', fifth century, wife of Ynyr Gwent. Fled to the Celtic monastery at Tintagel when the skirmishes between the Romans and the Celts were at their height. (See Mystical WWW Glastonbury for information on Tintagel & Arthur).