Around the world – April 2016
In the Czech Republic, April 30 is known as pálení čarodějnic (burning of the witches) or čarodějnice (the witches). Every year, on the night of April 30, in towns across the Czech Republic, people light bonfires. On this night, folktales say that witches gather and meet in the hills. The fires are meant to scare away the witches.
This also serves as an official farewell to winter. April Fool’s Day falls on April 1. While no one knows for sure when our how it became a day for pranking friends and family, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy it. The first recorded reference to April first and foolishness was in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, which was published in 1392.
In Mexico, April 30 is known as el Dia del Niño — Children’s Day. Even though it is not an official holiday on the school calendar, there are no classes on Childrens Day. Instead of going to school, many families go do special activities like visiting a zoo or going to a water park. Some parents give their children gifts on this day, too.