April is a month that is full of special events and holidays.  Most prominent is April Fool’s Day  (April 1st), Palm Sunday (April 9), Easter (April 16th), Passover (April 12-20), and Arbor Day (April 22).  The month of April also has some lesser known observances.

There are several recognized monthly observances for April.  First of all, April is “Be Vigilant Against Child Abuse Month.”   The “Turn Purple Campaign” exists to bring awareness to the problems of child abuse and youth homelessness.

April is also Holocaust Month.  This is a time to remember the travesties that took place against mankind so that history will never repeat itself.  It is also a time to celebrate the human spirit and those who survived.

The Academy of American Poets has April set aside as National Poetry Month.  2006 will be the tenth year for this tradition.  The Academy seeks to bring more attention to this art form via the media and individual contributions.

On the sports scene, April 2nd is opening night for that great American past time, baseball.  April 3rd is opening day and April 15th is Jackie Robinson Day.  Catch the Chicago White Sox home opener against the Cleveland Indians at 7:05 pm, Central Time on ESPN 2.  View all pre-season and regular season games online via MLB.TV.

Traditionally, spring is known for pleasant rain showers and it is the time of year when everything turns green while flowers begin to bloom.  During April, one can enjoy some outdoor activities like going to the zoo, the park or amusement parks before the weather gets too hot or venues become crowded with summer visitors.

Simon Cowell recently predicted that Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks and Kelly Pickler would be the top 3 contenders for this season's American Idol.  Reportedly, Cowell has been dead-on at this point in the competition during previous seasons.  Continue to view American Idol to see if his prediction comes true this season.

Daylight Savings Time begins at 2am on Sunday, April 2nd.   Remember to spring those clocks forward before turning in for the night on Saturday, April 1st.

Related resources:

• April, from Wikipedia - Comprehensive overview on the month of April.  Find trivia and information on holidays and observances.
• Turn Purple Campaign - Describes the purpose, facts, events and ways to contribute and get involved in helping abused children and homeless youth.
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Find historical facts, remembrance, educational resources and documented research.
• The Academy of American Poets - Describing the purpose, goals and activities for National Poetry Month.
• American Idol - Get all the latest news, results, videos and exit interviews for this program.