Re: Big Holidays in April

On Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:19:38 +0000, Ross Clark wrote:

I've been busy. Since my last report:
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Songkran (เทศกาลสงกรานต์, pronounced [tʰêːt.sā.kāːn sǒŋ.krāːn])
(Thai New Year) has come and gone (13-16 April)
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"derived from Sanskrit saṅkrānti (संक्रान्ति), meaning 'to move',
'movement', or 'astrological passage'. It derives from the movement of
the sun from one position to another in the zodiac. According to its
literal meaning in Sanskrit, a Songkran occurs every month. However, the
period that Thai people refer to as Songkran happens when the sun moves
from Pisces to Aries in the zodiac."
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran_(Thailand)
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Passover has come and gone (13-19 April)
....surviving an attempt by Trump Religion Inc. to weaponize (or
monetize) the ancient festival.
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https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-849186
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And Holy Week has come and gone. Today was Easter Sunday (in lots of
countries).
In the morning a priest cast aspersions on me (and everybody he could
reach). In the afternoon I hid tiny foil-wrapped chocolate eggs so
children could look for them. Then we ate them.
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Tomorrow will be Easter Monday (in lots of countries).
Meanwhile, in Brazil, it will be Tiradentes Day!
Not celebrating dentistry, but commemorating the hanging (in 1792) of
Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, an early independence fighter.
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"He dedicated himself to pharmaceutical practices and dentistry, which
earned him the nickname Tiradentes. "Tiradentes" means "tooth puller", a
pejorative denomination adopted during the trial against him."
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiradentes
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After that, a relatively quiet couple of days, though Earth Day (22
April) may be celebrated somewhere near you. And 23 April is St George's
Day, though not a public holiday anywhere by my notes.
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https://www.gbnews.com/news/st-georges-day-public-holiday-mp-english-heritage
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And on the 24th it's the First Day of Summer in Iceland! Officially!
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_day_of_summer_(Iceland)
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But all that will pass relatively unnoticed down here, since 25 April is
Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand -- our big war memorial day.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day
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And what with that and the following weekend coming hot on the heels of
Eastertide, and the school kids on holiday, lots of people are looking
at it as a whole season. The weather, however, is not contributing to
the holiday spirit.

      Shakespeare's  birthday?
              William Shakespeare’s birthday is traditionally celebrated
on April 23, 1564. The exact date of his birth is not recorded, but he
was baptized on April 26, 1564, and April 23 is widely accepted as his
birthday.
              Vladimir Nabokov was born on April 22, 1899 (Gregorian
calendar) in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Due to the use of the Julian
calendar in Russia at the time, his birth date is sometimes also listed
as April 10 (Old Style). Nabokov occasionally celebrated his birthday on
April 23, aligning with the Western calendar and distancing it from
Lenin’s birthday.