April Notebook: On the Cusp

Oh! the anticipation...

Hello!

A very happy April to you.

And isn’t this an excellent month.

The birds are singing, the sun is peeking through the curtains earlier every day and the hedgerows have that uniquely ‘spring’ colour to them…it’s like an extremely juicy, almost-edible lime green. I love it so much.

With most of Winter firmly behind us (although there’s always a tiny chance of late snow) we can firmly set our sights on Spring and Summer now and start to move into our outdoor living phase. The whole year is ahead.

Who’s ready for it?

In this newsletter, we’ll be looking up at the Pink Moon, enjoying Easter bakes and feeling a sense of rising hope and new energy.

Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

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Things to Love about April

1. Blossom season

There’s something about tree blossom that just makes everyone feel good. It’s impossible to not smile when you see a blossom tree, and I love the way everyone stops to take a photo for the short window they are in flower this month.

There’s a cherry blossom tree in my local botanical gardens that has a constant stream of people waiting to take a photo underneath this month. Instagram must be filling up with them! And why not.

I love the way the fleeting nature of it makes it even more special.

2. Easter baking

Easter falls late this year, on the 20th April, which I suppose just gives us more time for all that delicious baking and eating. Chocolate eggs, spiced buns, chocolate nest cakes… spring baking is the best.

Here are some recipes to try:

• 🥕 Carrot patch cake

• 🪺 Chocolate Easter egg nest cakes

• 👑 Mary Berry’s Easter biscuits

Photo by AJ on Unsplash

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Things to do in April

1. Look for the Pink Moon

April’s full moon falls on the 13th April and has some beautiful folklore names associated with it.

According to the Almanac, the ‘Pink Moon’ name comes from the flowering of the ‘moss pink’ (Phlox subulata) in April, one of the first spring wildflowers in North America.

Here are some other names for April’s Full Moon: (according to sources here and here)

• Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin)

• Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota)

• Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota)

• Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota)

• Frog Moon (Cree)

• Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit)

• Seed Moon (Celtic)

• Egg Moon (Anglo-Saxon)

Photo by uomo libero on Unsplash

2. Observe ‘First Cuckoo Day’

14th April is known as First Cuckoo Day, which is when the first Cuckoos traditionally return from their Winter migration. Welcoming the cuckoo back marks the arrival of Spring, and whilst Climate change might be throwing a bit of a spanner in the works these days, keep an ear out on the 14th just in case.

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Ok, that’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed your April newsletter and I hope you have a wonderful month filled with tree blossom, pink moons and cuckoo song.

Now it’s over to you to share your April rituals and traditions in the Comments. I’m really interested to know if anyone else loves this month and if so what your rituals and traditions look like?

I’ll see you next month for a May edition of the Monthly Notebook. We’ll be diving into May Day festivities and Celtic seasonal rituals. I’ll add a sprinkling of weird and wonderful folklore for you too.

Look forward to seeing you there. If you haven’t already Subscribed then just click below to make sure that post arrives safely in your inbox.

Vicky xx

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Did you know…

I have a new book out soon! The Solstice Yearbook can be pre-ordered now, from all good bookshops and online (or just search your local Amazon site to find the edition local to you). Can’t wait to share more about this soon!

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