April Fools’ Day seems to have begun in France in 1564. Apr 1 used to be New Year’s Day, but the New Year was changed to Jan 1 that year. People who insisted on celebrating the “old” New Year became known as April fools, and it became common to play jokes and tricks on them. The general concept of a feast of fools is, however, an ancient one. The Romans had such a day, and medieval monasteries also had days when the abbot or bishop was replaced for a day by a common monk, who would order his superiors to do the most menial or ridiculous tasks.
According to Brady’s Clavis Calendaria (1812): “The joke of the day is to deceive persons by sending them upon frivolous and nonsensical errands; to pretend they are wanted when they are not, or, in fact, any way to betray them into some supposed ludicrous situation, so as to enable you to call them ‘An April Fool.’”
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In 1979 the National Exchange Club adopted the prevention of child abuse as its national project and established the National Exchange Club Foundation. The Foundation is a chartered nonprofit corporation in Ohio. The Foundation has established Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers throughout the US.
More than 690,000 families have received services from the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention network. Read more at https://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/.
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Apr 1, 1970. Radio and television ads for cigarettes were banned in the U.S.A. by legislation signed by President Richard Nixon on this date. The ban went into effect Jan 1, 1971.
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Confederate History Month is recognized annually by six state governments in the Southern United States to recognize and honor the history of the Confederate States of America.
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On the first day of each month, the genealogy community is urged to back up their genealogy data and all computer data.
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Distracted Driving Awareness Month – The National Safety Council observes April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month to draw attention to the epidemic of crashes caused by the use of cell phones while driving. Learn more at http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/distracted-driving-awareness-month.aspx.
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Apr 1– 30. Every April, Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) highlights the glories of jazz as both a historical and a living treasure. Here is one special month to draw greater public attention to the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz and its importance to American culture. Musicians, concert halls, schools, colleges, museums, libraries and public broadcasters are encouraged to offer special programs during this month. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History (which operates the world’s most comprehensive set of jazz programs) leads this initiative in concert with a distinguished roster of federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and broadcasting networks.
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Man Having Be Happy Sticky Note on Forehead During Office Break Time
1 April 2017 is National Fun at Work Day. Today and every day the workplace should be spiced with fun, laughter and a playful attitude. Morale will increase, productivity will soar and the bottom line will improve.
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2 Apr – 15 June 1982. Argentina, claiming sovereignty over the nearby Falkland Islands (called the Malvinas by Argentina), invaded and occupied the British Crown colony on Apr 2, 1982. British forces defeated the Argentinians on June 15, 1982. About 250 British and 600 Argentine lives were lost in the conflict. In 1986 three military officers, including General Leopoldo Galtieri (who was president of Argentina at the time of the invasion), were convicted and sentenced for the military crime of negligence. Commemorative ceremonies are observed as Malvinas Day in Argentina.
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Hans Christian Andersen, author of classic children’s literature was born on 2 April 2 1805 in Odense, Denmark.
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International Children’s Book Day commemorates the international aspects of children’s literature.
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Peanut Butter & Jelly Day celebrates a classic sandwich. Peanut butter was a delicacy in the early 1900s but by World War II was on soldiers’ military ration list. But today, for instance, the average American will consume about 2000 PBJ’s by the time they graduate from high school.
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On 2 April, columnist Ann Landers wrote, “Since 1989, I have suggested that April 2 be set aside to write that letter or make that phone call and mend a broken relationship. Life is too short to hold grudges. To forgive can be enormously life-enhancing.”
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World Autism Awareness Day puts the spotlight not only on the challenges that people with autism face but also on their unique talents. Read more https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/world-autism-awareness-day.
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The Marshall Plan was suggested by Secretary of State George C. Marshall in a speech at Harvard, 5 June 1947, the legislation for the European Recovery Program, popularly known as the Marshall Plan, was signed by President Truman on 3 April 1948. After distributing more than $ 12 billion, the program ended in 1952.
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National Tweed Day celebrates either the Scottish fabric OR the birthday of the corrupt American Democrat William “Boss” Tweed. Take your pick. Read more.
On April 3, 1860, the first rider of the Pony Express left St. Joseph, Missouri heading West. For $5 per ounce, a letter could be delivered within 10 days.
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On 4 April 1968, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, was shot at Memphis, TN. James Earl Ray was serving a 99-year sentence for the crime at the time of his death in 1998.
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National Hug a Newsperson Day is an opportunity to thank a local newsperson. Read more at https://nationaltoday.com/national-hug-newsperson-day/.
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On 4 April 1949. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created by this treaty, which was signed by 12 nations, including the US. (Other countries joined later.) The NATO member nations are united for common defense. The treaty went into effect Apr 24, 1949, and the first session of the North Atlantic Council was held Sept 17, 1949.
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Black educator and leader Booker Taliaferro Washington was born on 5 April 1856 at Franklin County, Virginia. “No race can prosper,” he wrote in Up from Slavery, “till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.” Died at Tuskegee, Alabama, 14 November, 1915.
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5 April is National Deep Dish Pizza Day to celebrate Chicago deep dish pizza—originated by Uno’s— and the efforts by Uno Chicago Grill to bring deep dish pizza to the entire United States. The original restaurant, which opened in 1943, began serving deep dish as a way to make sure hungry families could get a “real meal” when it came to pizza. Up to that point, pizza was hardly more than a snack. Annually celebrated on the anniversary of the day (5 April 1979) that the first restaurant outside Chicago opened (in Boston, Massachusetts).
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National Read a Road Map Day recalls the days before GPS, but knowing how to read a paper map will come in handy if you don’t have a signal or your electronic navigation fails. Read more at https://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/reading-a-road-map-lost-art/.
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On 5 April, the Confucian festival of Qing Ming was traditionally celebrated on the fourth or fifth day of the third month but is now on fixed dates (Apr 4 or 5) in China. It is observed by the maintenance of ancestral graves, the presentation of food, wine and flowers as offerings and the burning of paper money at gravesides to help ancestors in the after-world. People also picnic and gather for family meals.
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On 6 April 1830, under the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded with six members in a log cabin at Fayette, New York.
