Abril

Abril is the Spanish and Portuguese word for April; i.e., the fourth month of the year and the first full month of spring following March. The word comes from the Latin “aprilis” which is derived from “aperire” meaning “to open”. This is obviously apropos since April is when trees and flowers “open” and bloom. Many of the months were named after Greco-Roman gods and goddesses, and since April was sacred to the goddess Venus (Greek counterpart Aphrodite) the name may be connected to the Greek “Aphro” which is short for Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and reproduction. Similarly, the following month of May is named for the Roman goddess of spring and fertility Maia, and June comes from the Latin “iuniores” meaning “young people”. Seeing the springtime theme here? Not only do the months of April, May and June signify rebirth and the fertility of nature, but they are also the first three months of the Zodiac calendar. The name April is all about youth, beauty and renewal. The birthstone of April is the diamond and the flower is daisy or sweet pea. English speakers have been naming their daughters April a lot longer than Spanish speakers have been using Abril – and, although English speakers also have a tradition of using the names May and June, Spanish speakers doubtfully use Mayo and Junio for their baby girls. Abril is currently most popular in Spain, Catalonia and Argentina.