April 2004
4

Daylight Saving Time Begins at 2:00 a.m. Set your clocks ahead one hour

4 Palm Sunday is observed by Christians to remember Jesus triumphant arrival at the holy city of Jerusalem. The crowds greeted him by waving palm branches. Today, Christians usually begin Palm Sunday services with a palm procession. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week leading to Easter.
5 Passover (Pesach), the most important of Jewish festivals, begins at sunset (the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan) It is the seven- or eight-day observance—depending on family tradition—commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. It is observed with one or more Seder meals filled with ritual. Many Jews keep Passover by refraining from eating certain foods during the days of Passover, including any foods with leavening. Read more in the Bible’s book of Exodus, chapters 1-15.
6 & 7 First days of Passover
8 Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is a day when Christians attend services to remember the Last Supper when Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples and gave the sacrament of Holy Communion.
9 Good Friday, the most somber day of the Christian calendar, is observed by Christians the Friday before Easter and commemorates the crucifixion, death, and entombment of Jesus Christ. While Christians may observe the solemnity of the entire day, many especially focus on the three hours between 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. when Christ hung on the cross.
10 Easter Vigil is observed on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. Traditionally, new Christians are baptized at this service. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil services form the Triduum of Holy Week services.
11

Easter, the highest point on the Christian calendar, is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection from death to win for the faithful eternal life that is observed the first Sunday following the first full moon that occurs on or after the vernal (spring) equinox.

Orthodox Easter (Pascha) is observed by Eastern Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Churches.
12 & 13 Last days of Passover (Pesach) which begins at sunset April 11 and concludes at sunset April 13.
14 Pan American Day By Presidential proclamation this date commemorates the friendship among Western Hemisphere republics and symbolizes a spirit of mutual cooperation. To learn more, contact Organization of American States, 17th St. & Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20006, 202-458-3000.
18 Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) begins at sunset April 17 and honors the memory of six million Jewish martyrs and heroes who perished in the Nazi Holocaust. To learn more, visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum website: www.ushmn.org/remembrance/organizeaday.
22 Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year to acknowledge our responsibility for the environment. Information: earthday@earthday.net or www.earthday.net
30 Arbor Day is held the last Friday in April to encourage people to plant and care for trees. Information: education@arborday.org or www.arborday.org
   
       
         
 

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