Top 5 Random Holidays in April

It’s April! Here is a list of five fun April holidays to celebrate with your family (at home)! 

  • April 7 – International Beaver Day

I’m cute and furry, with a big, flat tail. What am I?

A beaver! International Beaver Day is celebrated in honor of beaver lover Dorothy Richards, who studied beavers for fifty years in the New York Adirondack Mountains. To commemorate her dedication to beavers, April 7 was chosen as International Beaver Day in 2008 by a group called Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife. Richards advocated strongly for beavers. She helped the public see that they are gentle, resourceful creatures that learn from imitation and experience. The Indian work for beaver-like describes their nature well: affable. This day can be celebrated in a number of ways! Learn more about beavers by reading and watching a documentary on them or taking a social distancing hike to find beavers near you. 

  • April 9 – Winston Churchill Day

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts,” Winston Churchill.

With empowering words like these, Winston Churchill bravely led the British people through the horror of World War II. He encouraged and bolstered his people, creating key strategies for the Allied force. As prime minister, Churchill fought to construct the “grand alliance,” comprised of the United States, Soviet Union, and Britain. Although it is not his birthday or day of death, Winston Churchill is celebrated on April 9. On this date in 1963, U.S. President Kennedy signed a bill that made Churchill an honorary U.S. citizen. One way to celebrate Winston Churchill is to learn more about him. There are several movies on Churchill that would make a great quarantined movie night. 

  • April 13 – National Scrabble Day 

Chutzpah (77 points); Exorcize (76 points); Whizbang (76 points)! 

You better take notes because April 13 is National Scrabble Day, and the best way to commemorate the day is by playing the game. Alfred Butts created the renowned board game called Scrabble in 1929 during the Great Depression. Like many people today, Butts was out of work and looking for something to pass the time. A game lover himself, Butts sought to create a new board game that families could play together. He combined aspects from the games anagrams and the crossword puzzle to create an entirely new competition. Butts called his original word scoring game LEXICON, later changing the name to Criss Cross Words. However, the game was not a hit from the start; multiple companies rejected the concept. Scrabble took off when James Brunot came into the picture and helped Butt rework and title to board game. Scrabble was trademarked in 1948 and soon became a national classic. 

  • April 17 – International Bat Appreciation Day 

I can live up to 40 years, see in the dark, and fly. What am I? 

A bat! The Bat Conservation International (1982) founded International Bat Appreciation Day in an effort to highlight the important roles bats play in human lives. There are over 1,350 known species of bats. Though they are typically portrayed as scary and evil, bats are actually a “keystone” species. They consume a large number of agricultural pests that, if left to multiply, would be detrimental to the world’s natural ecosystems. Bats also pollinate plants, which allows fruit to grow and local economies to flourish. Bat’s pollination roles also provide wildlife with food. Celebrate this day by learning more about bats and drawing a picture of one.

  • April 21 – National Kindergarten Day 

Blue and red make purple! 2 + 2 = 4!

Pull out your paints and flashcards because it’s National Kindergarten Day! Kindergarten Day commemorates the birthday of Friedrich Fröbel, the German educator who created kindergarten. In 1779, Fröbel had noticed that many young children were left to their own devices when their parents had to take care of adult responsibilities. He sought to teach these children by letting them freely explore the things that interested them. In German, kindergarten means “children’s garden.” This is exactly what Fröbel and his friend Louis Scheppler got together to create, a place where young children could explore the wonder of the world around them. Celebrate this day by creating a finger-painted masterpiece or racing your family in basic flashcards. 

Jordan Lance

Jordan Lance

Jordan Lance is the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Runner.