Date |
Event |
Details |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1st | April Fool's Day |
Apart from it being my wedding anniversary, April 1st is also the day when people just act plain silly (like getting married). |
| Apr 1st | Easter Monday |
Easter Monday is a bank holiday in the UK, but it's not what it used to be as the shops will be open, but offices will be shut. |
| April 1st | End of the UK tax year |
The UK tax year runs from April to April not January to January. All residents of the UK must send in a self assessment tax form by September in order to have their tax calculated for the next year. Of interest to business English learners the link will tell you more about the UK tax system. |
| Apr 2nd | Maldon Mud Race |
The mud race used to be held over Dec / Jan, but has been moved to Easter. Maldon is usually associated with salt, but The 'Mad' Maldon Mud Race is just what it says on the label: A race, through mud. Having seen it, it should be called the Maldon Mud crawl. |
| Apr 3rd | Fish Fingers and Custard Day |
.The 3rd of April is fish fingers and custard day. Do you know why? In the Doctor Who episode "Eleventh Hour" the Dr, played by Matt Smith, ate fish fingers and custard, prepared for him by Amy Pond. What he actually ate was breaded coconut sticks. And that's how tradition is born. Cheat! |
| April 6th | The Grand National |
Love it or hate it, it's here. Since the first Grand National Meeting in 1837 this race has claimed lives and injured many, horses and jockeys, but they carry on regardless. Often over 20 horses start the race and only a few finish. The most famous Grand National winner - Red Rum - mix up the letters and you get 'murder'! |
| April 6th | International Pillow Fight Day |
Love it or hate it, it's here. Since the first Grand National Meeting in 1837 this race has claimed lives and injured many, horses and jockeys, but they carry on regardless. Often over 20 horses start the race and only a few finish. The most famous Grand National winner - Red Rum - mix up the letters and you get 'murder'! |
| Apr 12th | On this day |
When James VI of Scotland also became James I of England in 1603 , the two kingdoms of England and Scotland became united through the institution of the Crown. On April 12, 1606 , a "Grand Union" flag was created to represent this grand union. |
| Apr 14th | On this day |
At 11:40 PM (ship's time) on Sunday April 14, 1912, RMS Titanic, the second of a trio of superliners, struck an iceberg. The rest as they say is history. |
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| Apr 20th | Record Store Day |
2013 is the sixth celebration of the UK's unique independent record shops. This is the one day that all of the independently owned record shops come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists across the globe make special appearances and performances to support independent businesses. (It all started in America - hence "store".) |
| Apr 21st | The Queen's Birthday |
This is the Queen's real birthday, she was born on 21 April 1926, so she's 80 this year, you can expect to hear a lot about this. I can only presume that today is when she gets to unwrap lots of presents and invites friends round for a party. She also has an official birthday in June (which is for all the more boring stuff). |
| Apr 21st | The London Marathon |
Huff Puff. The first London Marathon was held on March 29 1981. Since then it has grown into one of the major marathons in the world. An important aspect of the Marathon is its charitable status. It is one of the UK’s most successful annual fundraising event. |
| Apr 23rd | St George's Day |
He slew a dragon (or not) and we made him our patron saint! |
| Apr 23rd | The Bard's Birthday |
The Queen's not the only one to have a birthday this month. Wiliam Shakespeare was baptised on the 26th of April 1564 and as it was common practice to baptise children shortly after their birth, it has always been assumed that his date of birth was the 23rd of April. So if he had lived he would have been well over 400 years old today. Of course no one really knows the exact date of his birth, but this date has been chosen for him, and it's the thought that counts. Strangely he is also said to have died on this day. |
| 2nd Tuesday after Easter | Hocktide |
Hocktide was celebrated on the second Monday and Tuesday after Easter Tuesday, the men of a parish would tie up the women until they paid a ransom for their release. On the following day Hock Tuesday (Binding Tuesday or Tuttiday) the women tied up the men. The money was given to the church. It traditionally signalled the start of the summer half of the year and was a time for paying taxes, tolls and rents and for collecting any debts for the first quarter of the year. Hence the term "getting out of hock (debt)". The only place I could find that still really celebrates Hocktide in the UK was the town of Hungerford, in Berkshire, where “Tutti-men” go around the town to exact a toll from all the town's commoners (a penny from the men and a kiss from the women). They wear top hat and tails, and carry a long pole topped by an orange. Don't say you haven't been warned! |
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