April holidays and observances to add to your calendar

Breathe a sigh of relief because winter is officially behind us. And now, you can rest easy knowing that the coming months come with a burst of color, warmer weather and longer days.

April, in particular, is when many of us start to embrace all things spring — pastel palettes, cheery tulips, you name it. But it's the month's annual holidays that really bring the cheer.

The month kicks off with April Fools' Day, Passover and Easter (this year, at least), but there are plenty of other holidays, observances and awareness days throughout the month to help you make the most of the season. For instance, Nature Day, Find a Rainbow Day, Earth Day and National Gardening Day will encourage you to step outside and soak up the sunshine.

To appreciate the sun, you have to deal with the rain — and April tends to bring its fair share. Luckily, there are so many holidays on this list that'll inspire you to find the fun in staying inside. On National Handmade Day, make some festive crafts with your kids. Treat yourself all month long with a long soak in the tub (National Self Care Day), trip the nail salon (National Mani-Pedi Day) or a hot cuppa before bed (National Tea Day). Or spend time in the kitchen and celebrate the food-related holidays with homemade eats like sourdough bread, coffee cake or açaí bowls.

It’s also a month to connect with others if you’ve been doing some hibernating this winter. Think: National Greeting Card Day, National Tell A Story Day and Global Pay It Forward Day.

Here comes the fun part: Add these April holidays, observances and awareness days to soak up all that the month has to offer.

Daily holidays and observances in April 2023

April 1

  • April Fools’ Day

  • International Pillow Fight Day

  • National Fun Day

  • National Greeting Card Day

  • National Handmade Day

  • National Sourdough Bread Day

April 2

  • Geologists Day

  • International Children’s Book Day

  • National DIY Day

  • National Ferret Day

  • National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

  • Nature Day

  • Palm Sunday

  • World Autism Awareness Day

April 3

  • National Chocolate Mousse Day

  • National Find a Rainbow Day

  • National Inspiring Joy Day

April 4

  • International Carrot Day

  • National Cordon Bleu Day

  • National School Librarian Day

  • National Vitamin C Day

April 5

  • Bell Bottoms Day

  • National Caramel Day

  • National Dandelion Day

  • National Deep Dish Pizza Day

  • National Self Care Day

  • National Walking Day

  • Passover (starts at sundown)

  • Peeps Day

April 6

  • California Poppy Day

  • Hostess Twinkie Day

  • National Açaí Bowl Day

  • National Burrito Day

  • National Caramel Popcorn Day

  • National Library Day

  • National Pajama Day

  • National Student Athlete Day

April 7

  • Good Friday

  • National Coffee Cake Day

  • National Pet Health Insurance Day

  • Public Television Day

  • Walk to Work Day

April 8

  • International Feng Shui Awareness Day

  • National Zoo Lovers Day

April 9

  • Easter

  • National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day

  • National Cherish an Antique Day

  • National Unicorn Day

April 10

  • Golfer’s Day

  • National Encourage a Young Writer Day

  • National Farm Animals Day

  • National Hug Your Dog Day

  • National Siblings Day

April 11

  • Dog Therapy Appreciation Day

  • National Cheese Fondue Day

  • National Pet Day

April 12

  • Hamster Day

  • National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

April 13

  • Celebrate Teen Literature Day

  • International Plant Appreciation Day

  • Passover ends at nightfall

  • National Peach Cobbler Day

  • National Scrabble Day

April 14

  • International Kids Yoga Day

  • National Dolphin Day

  • National Donate a Book Day

  • National Gardening Day

  • National Pecan Day

April 15

  • National ASL Day

  • National Glazed Spiral Ham Day

  • Record Store Day

April 16

  • Good Deeds Day

  • National Eggs Benedict Day

  • National Orchid Day

  • Save the Elephant Day

April 17

  • Go Fly a Kite Day

  • International Bat Appreciation Day

  • International Haiku Poetry Day

  • National Cheese Ball Day

April 18

  • Adult Autism Awareness Day

  • National Animal Crackers Day

  • National Exercise Day

April 19

  • National Banana Day

  • National Dog Parent Appreciation Day

  • National Garlic Day

April 20

  • National Cheddar Fries Day

  • National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day

April 21

  • National Chickpea Day

  • National Tea Day

  • World Creativity and Innovation Day

April 22

  • Earth Day

  • National Jelly Bean Day

April 23

  • National Cherry Cheesecake Day

  • National English Muffin Day

  • National Lost Dogs Awareness Day

  • National Picnic Day

  • Shakespeare Day

  • World Book Day

  • World Table Tennis Day

April 24

  • National Pigs in a Blanket Day

April 25

  • National Mani-Pedi Day

  • National Plumbers Day

  • National Zucchini Bread Day

  • School Bus Drivers’ Day

  • World Penguin Day

April 26

  • Administrative Professionals Day

  • Denim Day

  • Get Organized Day

  • International Guide Dog Day

  • National Pretzel Day

  • World Stationery Day

April 27

  • Marine Mammal Rescue Day

  • National Tell A Story Day

  • Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

  • World Design Day

April 28

  • Arbor Day

  • Global Pay It Forward Day

  • National Blueberry Pie Day

  • Stop Food Waste Day

April 29

  • Indie Bookstore Day

  • International Astronomy Day

  • International Dance Day

  • World Veterinary Day

April 30

  • International Jazz Day

  • National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day

  • National Bubble Tea Day

  • National Oatmeal Cookie Day

  • National Raisin Day

  • National Therapy Animal Day

  • National Tie Dye Day

Weekly observances in April 2023

  • April 1 to 7: Be Kind to Spiders Week

  • April 2 to 8: Holy Week

  • April 3 to 9: National Public Health Week

  • April 8 to 16: National Robotics Week

  • April 4 to 8: National Wildlife Week

  • April 14 to 23: National Dance Week

  • April 23 to 29: National Library Week

Monthly observances in April 2023

  • Canine Fitness Month

  • Celebrate Diversity Month

  • Counseling Awareness Month

  • Dog Appreciation Month

  • Filipino Food Month

  • Global Astronomy Month

  • International Guitar Month

  • Jazz Appreciation Month

  • Move More Month

  • National Adopt a Greyhound Month

  • National BLT Sandwich Month

  • National Card and Letter Writing Month

  • National Garden Month

  • National Garlic Month

  • National Grilled Cheese Month

  • National Kite Month

  • National Pecan Month

  • National Pet First Aid Awareness Month

  • National Poetry Month

  • National Soft Pretzel Month

  • National Stress Awareness Month

  • National Volunteer Month

  • National Woodworking Month

  • National Youth Sports Safety Month

  • Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month

  • Sexual Assault Awareness Month

  • School Library Month

  • Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

This article was originally published on TODAY.com