The month of April in the collective heritage of the Arab Levant

Weather of Arabia - Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud Al-Shraideh - researcher in the Levantine climate heritage / Jordan.

The month of April is the fourth month in the Gregorian calendar. It is known in the Arab East as (April), and in the Arabian Gulf, Yemen and the Nile Valley (April), and in the Maghreb it is called (Avril).

The name of the month of April

The name of this month is derived from the Latin word (Aperire). This month was given this name in reference to the goddess who opens the gates of the sky so that the sun can shine after it disappears in the winter. The term (Nisan - Nisanu) was taken from the Levantine “Aramaic-Syriac” calendar. The word “Nisan” means Syriac in the Arabic language, and it means beginning, moving, or initiating a matter or thing. It means the appearance of plants and grass and the greenness of the earth.

This month was the beginning of the religious year for the Babylonians, and the number of days in the month of April is 30 days.

Events in April

Among the most famous occasions of the month of April is Nowruz, which is the beginning of the Persian year in Iran, and Sham El Nessim in Egypt, where Egyptians celebrate by going out for a walk and eating dried fish (feseekh) and onions in particular. This custom was taken from the Coptic heritage.

Popular proverbs for the month of April

Perhaps the most famous popular oral proverbs circulating in the Arab East about the month of April are: - (The rain of April revives the earth and mankind), (The winter of April revives mankind), (The rain of April is equal to a track, an acre, a cow, and a flock of chicks), (April of paths... I make it fall like a mountain crumbling). (Between the scorpion and the Nisani, raise your upper veil.)