Thursday Thirteen ~#14

1. April is Confederate History Month. I wonder if Wal-mart will have a display in the aisle for Confederate History Month?
   


2. The birthstone for April is the Diamond.


3. April's flower is the Sweet Pea.


4. "April showers bring May flowers" .


5. April was the second month in an early Roman calendar, but became the fourth when the ancient Romans started using January as the first month. The Romans called the month Aprilis. It may come from a word meaning 'to open', or it may come from Aphrodite, the Greek name for the goddess of love.


6. April Fools' Day, or All Fools' Day, is the first day of April. No one knows where the custom began, but some historians believe it started in France. They had a New Year's festival that was celebrated from March 25 to April 1, and they would then exchange gifts. But, later, King James IV changed the holiday to January 1 for New Years. The people that still celebrated it April 1 were called 'April fish' and sent mock presents.
   April Fools' Day may also be related to the ancient Roman spring festival Hilaria, which celebrates the resurrection of the god Attis.


7. The Revolutionary War in America began on April 19, 1775, when British soldiers and American revolutionaries clashed in Massachusetts.


8. William Shakespeare, the playwright, was born on April 23, 1564.


9. The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, when South Vietnam surrendered.


10. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9.


11. The Confederacy opened fire on Fort Sumter in the predawn of April 12. Over the next day, nearly 4,000 rounds were hurled toward the black silhouette of Fort Sumter.


12. Thomas Jefferson was born April 13.


13. Ulysses S. Grant was born April 27th.

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