April, April! (April Fools’!)

The month that begins with April Fools’ Day (see below) is usually also the month of Easter (but not in 2024!). The month of April is also known for its unpredictable weather, which can vary between sunny spring and snowy winter, all in the same day! Hence the German saying:

April, April – der macht, was er will.
April, April – it does what it wants.

Der April
The German word for April, the fourth month of the year (Gregorian and Julian calendars), is spelled exactly the same as the English word, and both come from Latin Aprilis. (The pronunciation of the German puts the stress on the last syllable [a-PRIL], rather than the first, as in English [A-pril].) The origin of the Latin word is uncertain. Old Germanic terms for April include: Launing (changeable, capricious), Grasmond (grass moon), Ostermond (Easter moon), Ostermonat (Easter month), and Wandelmonat (change month).

Der Aprilscherz and Other April Customs
The first day of April in German-speaking Europe is a day of pulling pranks on people and making fools of them, just as in most of the world. But for some reason German has no expression for the day, other than the date itself. The word Aprilscherz (April joke/prank) refers to what happens on April Fools’ Day, but the German term for the day is der 1. (erste) April, the first of April. (The German Wikipedia equivalent entry for “April Fools’ Day” is Aprilscherz.)

Besides individual jokes and pranks at home, school, or in the office, the German media also engage in April Fools’ hoaxes. Here are a few examples from 2012:

• Eine neue Rechtschreibreform kommt. – A new German spelling reform is coming.
• Sommerzeit wird wieder rückgängig gemacht! – Daylight Saving Time is being abolished!
• Zoo Zürich gibt Aquariumsfische gratis ab. – The Zurich Zoo is giving away aquarium fish for free.
• Facebook: Verbot für die Worte „Face“ und „Book“ – Facebook: Banning of the words “Face” and “Book”
• Abnehmen mit Eiscreme – Lose weight with ice cream

April: Bauernregeln
There are many rural sayings/rhymes (Bauernregeln) related to the 30-day month of April. A few examples:

Aprilregen, ist dem Bauer ein Segen.
April rain is the farmer’s blessing.

Wenn der April Spektakel macht, gibt’s Heu und Korn in voller Pracht.
If April makes a spectacle, there will be hay and grain in full glory.

Continued below…

The Labors of the Months: This image from the Grimani Breviary illustrated manuscript (ca. 1515 to 1520) depicts the month of April. The art was created in the 16th century by Gerard Horenbout with Alexander and Simon Bening in Bruges, Belgium. The original codex is now at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice. PHOTO: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Ist der April schön und rein, wird der Mai um so wilder sein.
If April is nice and pure, May will be all the wilder.

Im April ein tiefer Schnee, keinem Dinge tut er weh.
A deep snow in April will not hurt a thing.

Ist der April noch so gut, er schneit uns gerne auf den Hut.
If April is still so good, it likes to snow on our hat.

Regen auf Walpurgisnacht (30. April) hat immer gutes Jahr gebracht.
Rain on Walpurgis Night (30 April) has always brought a good year.

Gehst du im April bei Sonne aus, lass nie den Regenschirm zu Haus.
If you go out in the April sun, never leave your umbrella at home.

Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night)

On the night of 30 April to 1 May, the last day or evening of the month, many people in Germany and other European countries (England, Estonia, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, etc.) observe a custom known as Walpurgis Night. Known as Walpurgisnacht in German, this tradition involves dancing and bonfires. Also known as the Witches’ Sabbath or Witches’ Night (Hexennacht), this custom was famously described in a book published by the German author Johannes Praetorius in 1668.

The Witches’ Sabbath on the Blocksberg (Blockes-Berges Verrichtung) by Johannes Praetorius (Hans Schultz, 1634-1687). From a 1668 monograph published in Leipzig and other locations. See a digital version of the book (DTA). PHOTO: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Later another German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, included a Walpurgis Night scene in Part One of his famous Faust drama. It also has been a literary theme in works by Thomas Mann, Bram Stoker, Edward Albee, and others.

It all began as a religious feast day commemorating the canonization of Saint Walpurga and the movement of her relics to Eichstätt, both of which occurred on 1 May 870, although there is some doubt that she was ever canonized. In any case, Saint Walpurga was hailed by German Christians for battling “pest, rabies, and whooping cough, as well as witchcraft”. Saint Walpurga was known for her efforts in converting people to Christianity, and she became popular as a saint who protected people from witchcraft. Today it is also related to May bonfires and Maypoles, carrying over from April into May.

To learn more about Saint Walpurga and Walpurgis Night, see our annotated Walpurgis Night English-German Glossary.

More | German Easter and Springtime Traditions
More | The Easter Bunny is German
More | Holidays and Celebrations

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Easter and Other Movable Feasts in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• History of Germany – A summary of German history from the 9th century to the present
• History & Culture – Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Cultural Comparisons: The USA and Germany – Comparison charts