April 29 is Shōwa Day in Japan. It is the anniversary of the birth of the Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito), who reigned from 1926 until his death in 1989. Hirohito’s reign saw Japan move from a primarily rural country into an industrial power. He also oversaw the turbulent years of Japan’s involvement in World War II, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the subsequent occupation of Japan. Rather than a day to celebrate, Shōwa Day in Japan is a day to reflect on this troubled part of the nation’s history.

Shōwa Day also begins Golden Week in Japan, a week that includes Consitution Memorial Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4), and Children’s Day (May 5).

^{(photo of Hirohito’s coronation/Library of Congress Photo)}

Image details: HATS! The Musical Guinness Stunt served by picapp.com

Ten years ago, on April 25, Sue Ellen Cooper (above right) gave a friend a festive red hat to celebrate the friend’s 50th birthday. It was an act that would change the way women feel about aging.

The Red Hat Society, in just one decade, has evolved from a group of friends wearing red hats and purple outfits, into a powerhouse organization that boasts close to 40,000 chapters in more than 25 countries. “When I turned 50, I felt there was still such a vibrant life ahead of me,” says Cooper.

The Red Hat Society is more than just a social organization. Since 2004, the group has sponsored “Go Red for Women,” which seeks to increase awareness of heart disease in women.

Any woman over 50 can become a member of the Red Hat Society. Just visit their Web site or call 1 866-FUN-AT50.

April is National Pecan Month, a celebration America’s only native nut tree. A relative of the Hickory tree, pecan trees are prevalent throughout the Southeastern United States, but can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Indiana and Illinois. Some other pecan facts:

• Pecans contain 19 vitamins and minerals
• The pecan trees at Mt. Vernon, George Washington’s estate in Alexandria, Virginia were planted more than 200 years ago and still thrive.
• Pecans are grown commercially in 11 states
• The US pecan crop is worth more than $300 million per year.

^{(photo © istockphoto)}

April 22 is Earth Day. This holiday, founded in 1970, celebrates the planet’s natural wonders and promotes education on ecology and ways to improve and preserve the environment. But don’t take my word for it. The bloggers at b5media have been talking about Earth Day and green topics for weeks. Here’s a little of what they’ve had to say:

• From “My Organized Biz,” Six Ways to Save Cash and Gas
• From the “List Maven,” 35 accessories from recycled materials
• From “Tree-Hugging Family,” Movies to Rent for Earth Day
• From “Weary Parent,” Earth Day Fun for Teens and Tweens
• From “Green Posse,” Marriott Golf Courses Go Green
• From “Mother Earth’s Garden,” Digging for Earth Day

^{(public domain photo)}

April 19 is Primrose Day in the UK. This day marks the anniversary of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli’s death in 1881. This occasion is commemorated by placing primrose flowers, Disraeli’s favorite, on Parliament Square in London.

The perrenial primrose is one of spring’s first flowers and a common addition to English gardens. It gets it’s name from the Roman “primula,” meaning “first little one.”

^{(photo © paul74/cc license)}

April 17 is National Cheese Ball Day, a celebration of that ubiquitous party food. Not only is it easy to make (or buy), but it’s a rare person that doesn’t enjoy cheese. Consider making this Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball from CDRecipes.com for your next party:

Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 pound grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onions
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 Clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons pimiento, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Form into a ball; cover with plastic film. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend. Serves eight.

^{(photo © istockphoto)}

April 13-19 is National Library Week in the United States. As a freelance writer, I’m a big fan of the library and sometimes visit my local branch up to five times a week. Where else can you find those huge referrence books that you wouldn’t be able to afford (or find a place to store if you could)?

Seemingly, I’m not alone. American check out more than two million books, movies, cds, and other items from US libraries each year. Libraries also offer computer access and classes on a variety of subjects–all this for around $31 per year to the average taxpaper.

Below is Julie Andrews and the National Library Association’s PSA for National Library Week:

April 13 begins the three-day New Year’s celebration throughout many Southeast Asian countries including Thailand. The holiday, called “Songkran,” in Thai is a day for honoring one’s elders, decorating statues of Buddha and giving rice and other food to Buddhist monks, and throwing water as a sign of good luck and prosperity.

^{(photo © 7-how-7/cc license)}

Just before dawn on April 9, 1942, General Edward Edward King, Jr. surrendered more than 75,000 Filipino and almost 12,000 American soldiers to the Japanese, following the Allied defeat during the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines. The exhausted men were stripped of their belongings, many were beaten, and most were forced to march 90 miles through the tropical jungle to Camp O’Donnell, a United States prison camp that had been captured by the Japanese. It was a brutal trek and thousands died en route of dehydration, heat exhaustion, starvation, and disease. By many estimates, between 25 and 28 percent of the men died during what has come to be known as the Bataan Death March.

To honor these men, April 9 is a national holiday in the Philippines. The day is called “araw ng Kagitingnan” (Day of Valor) there.

^{(National Archives Photo)}

April 3 is American Circus Day. It marks the anniversary of the opening of the first circus in America in 1793, in Philadelphia.

The circus has a long and varied history. Circuses are first mentioned in the history of ancient Rome, where they were more sports contests and chariot races than the fanciful entertainment we associate with the circus today.

Today’s version of the circus evolved during the Middle Ages in Europe, combining the gypsy prowess with animals and Asian acrobatic skills.

^{(photo © mhaithaca/cc license)}