April events and observances that seniors can enjoy
April is full of events that mark new beginnings, such as school entrance ceremonies and company induction ceremonies.
As the weather gets warmer, some seniors may also feel the fresh, hopeful spirit of April.
With that in mind, here are some April events and commemorative days that seniors can enjoy at care facilities and similar settings.
We’ve gathered some lesser-known commemorative days too, like Anpan Day, Incense Day, and Haircut Day.
It could be fun to hold events themed around the names of these days on the actual dates.
You can also use this article to run a “What day is April X?” commemorative-day quiz.
Don’t forget to include hints when you ask the questions.
Let’s all enjoy the many events that April has to offer together.
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- Spring Event Quiz for Seniors to Enjoy in March
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- [For Seniors] Classic spring songs to sing in April: A heartwarming moment with nostalgic children’s songs and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs)
- [For Seniors] Embraced by Spring: Wall Decoration Ideas to Enjoy in April
- [For Seniors] Hina Matsuri (Girls’ Day) Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts. Recommended for Dementia Prevention Activities
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- [For seniors] April haiku. Exciting
April Events and Observances Enjoyable for Seniors (1–10)
Library Memorial Day
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Do you usually read books? Whether you do or don’t, why not visit a library on April 30? That day is designated as Library Memorial Day.
Looking back a bit, it’s said that the occasion traces back to 1872, when the first library in Tokyo was established.
In fact, in recent years many libraries offer diverse ways to enjoy yourself—some have cafés, others let you read manga, and more.
This could be a great opportunity to go on a little library tour.
Many places require reservations, so be sure to do your research.
flower festival
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The Flower Festival is a celebration held on April 8th and is a Buddhist event that commemorates the Buddha’s birthday.
Traditionally, a small pavilion called a Hanamido is constructed and decorated with flowers, and offerings are made to the Buddha enshrined within to convey congratulations.
As sweet hydrangea tea (amacha) is often served at temples during the Flower Festival, it might be nice to sip amacha while reflecting on the occasion.
Also, focusing on the term “Flower Festival,” you could deepen your understanding of spring flowers or enjoy exploring landscape photographs, which sounds like fun too.
The Strong Rice Ceremony of Rinnō-ji
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On April 2, you often see news segments showing people being made to eat heaping bowls of rice.
That’s a Shugendo ritual held every year at Nikko’s Rinno-ji Temple called the “Rinno-ji Gohan-shiki (Strong Rice) Ceremony.” I’ll skip its origins here, but it’s said to be a prayer for things like health and business prosperity.
It’s hard to eat that much yourself, but how about serving yourself a bit more rice than usual? By the way, if you reserve in advance, you can even watch it live.
If you’re nearby, give it a visit.
April events and observances (11–20) that seniors can enjoy
Bread Day
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April 12 is Bread Memorial Day.
It’s said to have been designated because it was the day bread was first baked in Japan.
Why not take this opportunity to try baking bread, or buy a bunch of bread and throw a bread party? It also sounds fun for everyone to bring their favorite bread to share.
Apparently, many stores hold sales, too.
By the way, the 12th of every month is designated as Bread Day.
Hosting a bread party every month could be a great idea as well.
Friendly Day
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April 14 is Friendly Day, a day to get along with all kinds of people, living creatures, and nature.
It was established because “414” can be read as “yo-i yo” (meaning “good, good”).
Why not take this opportunity to express your gratitude to friends and family? Or use it as a chance to build friendships with people you don’t usually interact with.
You could also give your pet a present or take care of nearby plants.
If you spend the day with this in mind, you’ll likely end it with a warm feeling.
Haircut Day
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April 5 is considered “Haircut Day.” In fact, this observance is linked to an event on April 5, 1872, when a law called the “Women’s Haircut Prohibition Order” was issued, forbidding women from cutting their hair freely.
Today, it has become a positive occasion marked by sales of haircut supplies and the distribution of haircut coupons, but it’s surprising that the day originally commemorated a restriction against cutting hair.
It might be a good day to check whether a nearby barbershop is running any promotions, or to have some fun by trying a new hairstyle.
Cleaning Day
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When we think of days to enthusiastically clean, year-end cleaning usually comes to mind.
But there’s actually a day related to cleaning in April as well: “Cleaning Day” on April 22.
This can be a good opportunity to clean your room or the shared spaces you use regularly.
In fact, there are four cleaning-related days throughout the year.
Each has a different name, so if you’re curious, look them up.
By the way, Cleaning Day was established because the Cleaning Act was enacted in 1954.