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    April

"If apples bloom in March - in vain for them you'll search,
If apples bloom in April - why then they'll be plentiful,
If apples bloom in May - you'll eat them night and day."

The two principle Saint's Days in April are - St. George (23 April) and St. Mark (25 April). Spires and Towers sport St. George's Cross and, in many church towers, that involves a long and winding climb up the circular staircase to raise the flag on the flagpole, high on the tower (but sometimes still only at the base of the steeple!)

St. George's Day is often, as in Norwich, also the 'Mayor's Day'.

St. Mark's Eve has many associations of seeing the 'ghosts' of those who would die in the coming year 'visiting' the churchyard to 'select' their grave !

"The Cuckoo comes in April, He sings his song in May,
In the middle of June he will change his tune; In July, he'll fly away."

April, associated with the first arrival of migrant birds, also has much 'Cuckoo Lore' including-

Spring Fairs where gates made from hurdles, clad in spring greenery, were 'opened' to let the Cuckoo fly through.

"Cuckowe Kings" were crowned with garland-crowns, and much 'Church Ale' - brewed for strength - was drunk (as if an excuse were needed !).

"When the cuckoo sings on a empty bough, Keep your hay and sell your cow."

"Oak before Ash - in for a splash, Ash before Oak - in for a soak."
(About buds forming in wet/mild spring weather)

The early Saxon festival commemorated the goddess Eostre (Easter), and the Saxon for April was Eosturmonath (Eostre's-month).