30 Reasons to Celebrate in April

As always, April Fool's Day falls on the first, so you can kick off the month with some lighthearted pranks. These April Fool's Day pranks for dads are sure to get your kids laughing. Remember that pranks can sometimes escalate, and not everyone enjoys being the butt of a joke, so take care to respect the wishes of those people who don't want to participate. A practical joke that everyone can enjoy? Prep some fake out foods like a mashed potato "sundae" or "fried egg"...MORE cake. 

Peanut butter and jelly is a lunchroom staple, so it's no wonder the sweet and savory sammie gets its own day of celebration. Browse our favorite ways to enjoy this flavor combo.

Both airy and decadent, chocolate mousse makes for a romantic dessert, whether you're prepping dessert for two or looking to impress a crowd. This particular chocolate mousse recipe originated in Hungary and has a backstory as seductive as its flavor. 

Though you may shudder at the thought of them lurking in your kitchen, rats actually make great pets! They are intelligent, social animals that are easily tamed and trained. Still not convinced? Learn more about Rattus norvegicus and find out if they are the right pet for you.

On this day we celebrate a classic chewy candy. Learn how to make classic caramels from scratch or try your hand at one of our favorite, more unusual, caramel candy recipes.

Believe it or not, Twinkies have been around for nearly 90 years (and some folks claim that Twinkies actually last forever). Despite Hostess filing for bankruptcy in 2012, it looks like Twinkies are here to stay. Looking for a more decadent version of this 1930s treat? Find out how to deep fry Twinkies, just like the ones available at country fairs. 

Beer has come a long way from its early days as a watered down, bitter beverage and the craft beer movement has introduced people to varieties beyond the standard American lager. To celebrate National Beer Day, skip your go-to six pack and opt to try a new brew. From stouts to sours, there are 90 different styles, and thousands of different beers to sample. For those of you who "don't like beer", we ask that you give the humble brewski one more shot, and try a style of beer with...MORE characteristics like your favorite beverage. 

Who says the park is just for kids? Get the whole family out of the house and onto the playground. Turn off your smartphone and burn some calories while climbing the jungle gym with your children, play a multi-generational game of kickball or fly a homemade kite. A family that plays together, stays together. 

We've said it before: bacon makes every recipe better. April is actually bacon MONTH, so what better time to learn the right way to cook perfect, crispy bacon or try a new recipe that incorporates America's favorite breakfast meat. To celebrate, we've rounded up seven tasty ways to cook with bacon. Some might sound a little odd (bacon muffins, anyone?), but trust us—you just can't go wrong with bacon. 

They may have annoyed us when we were younger, but few people know us as intimately as our siblings. Take a moment today to call your brother or sister and reminisce about all those times you drove each other (and your parents) crazy.

From the humble goldfish to towering quadrupeds, pets are there to comfort us when we're feeling low, provide unconditional love and often entertainment. Sure, they might be a little weird and sometimes misbehave, but here at The Spruce, we consider pets to be part of our families. Give your furry (or scaly, or feathered) friend a little extra love (and some treats!) today!

Whether we're talking about a simple slice of American cheese on white bread or aged brie on sourdough, grilled cheese always makes lunchtime awesome. Whip up one of these grilled cheese sammies for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert to celebrate.  

"Wait, is 'quijibo' really a word?" Over the years, we've had our fair share of surprise triple word scores, heated dictionary deliberations and maybe some tile throwing (see: National Siblings Day). To pay homage to this game for logophiles, we've got some high value words to help take your scrabble game up a notch, plus some essential tricks from self-proclaimed Scrabble nerds. 

People have been enjoying pecans since the 16th century—George Washington was even reported to have been a fan! What better way to celebrate than to whip up a batch of pecan candies, a classic pecan pie, or some other pecan desserts. 

There's more than one way to glaze a ham! Soda, maple syrup, pineapple and honey are all tried and true ways to sweeten up a classic baked ham. Find out how to use up leftovers in a breakfast casserole or whip up a savory ham sandwich. 

Hosting an Easter brunch or dinner? We've rounded up our favorite ways to decorate the table, some fun DIY projects for kids (and adults!), plus some delicious dishes to cook for brunch or dinner. Now what to do with all those hard-boiled eggs... 

There are varieties of red wine produced all around the world, and Malbec is Argentina's signature red wine. This varietal is medium to full-bodied, has plenty of acidity, high tannin levels and it pairs well with a number of dishes. We've rounded up a few of our favorite options (most under $20!) for you to try, just don't forget to let it breathe! 

Okay, doing your taxes isn't exactly fun, but our pals over at The Balance have all the info you need to get back your biggest return ever. Learn about common tax filing mistakes, and find out when you can expect your tax refund plus advice on how to make the most of that extra cash. Once you've dropped the forms off at the post office (or hit submit online) it's time to celebrate—you won't have to worry about itemizing your deductions until next year.  

After butter and salt, this vegetable ranks among our favorite ways to add flavor to a dish. Garlic is surprisingly simple to grow, and can thrive in a vegetable garden or planters. Learn the right way to crush garlic and the best way to roast it to add layers of umami to your meal, like in this garlic roasted chicken leg recipe. 

April is National Garden Month, and what better way to celebrate than by planting some flowers or veggies. For those folks born without a green thumb, try your hand at low maintenance perennials like coneflowers or these hard-to-kill houseplants. No yard? Learn how to create an indoor herb garden or grow your favorite plants on your balcony or porch in containers.  

​Spring is in full swing, but even warmer days are right around the corner. Today marks sixty days until the first official day of summer, so plan ahead: get your grill in tip-top shape, start pulling lightweight clothes out of storage, prep your pool and brainstorm some fun summer activities.

Our Mother Earth may only officially get one day a year, but we should try to protect our plant every day. See our favorite ways to live greener today, creative ways to upcycle old items and simple tips to start composting. Learn some interesting facts about Earth Day and plan some fun activities with your family.

Pack a picnic lunch and soak up some early spring sunshine today. This sandwich is perfectly portable and these desserts are great for eating on the go. Add some lemonade and you've got a feast fit for spring. 

Pigs-in-a-blanket may feel a bit dated, but adding a few tweaks to the hot dog + wrapper formula totally changes the dish. Try these breakfast pigs-in-a-blanket, this Filo wrapped frank or a whip up a traditional British sausage roll for a fun take on the classic appetizer.

Forever dressed in formal attire and waddling around, penguins are charming oddities of the bird world. There are actually eighteen distinct penguin species, and are found on four different continents.  Learn more about these aquatic, flightless birds.

Pretzels may a go-to snack for modern-day sporting events, but origins of this baked good can actually be traced back to monks in the Middle Ages. Delicious dipped in mustard or chocolate, wrapped around a hot dog or shaped into a roll, this salty baked good is a bit tricky to make from scratch but well worth the effort. 

Children learn by observing the world around them, and watching their parents at work is a great way for little ones to understand how things operate outside of school and their home. Learn how to make Take Your Child to Work Day a success for your children and colleagues.

Established in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, Arbor Day is a holiday where people are encouraged to plant trees. While you may not be able to plant a towering oak tree in your backyard, consider donating to the Arbor Day Foundation, or volunteering to help plant trees in your local parks or community. 

Going to the vet is never very fun (for your pet or your bank account), but veterinarians are essential—not only by keeping your pet healthy, but by monitoring and treating animal disease in the community, which keeps everyone, human and animal, safe. Learn more about different kids of vets. 

If you're looking to add a pet to your home, visit your local shelter or use a service like PetFinder to see what animals are available for adoption in your area. Shelters often deal with an influx of kittens and puppies in the spring and may even offer reduced adoption fees to help place more animals in home. If you don't have the space for another critter you can still help—by volunteering to walk dogs or by donating old linens, newspapers and other items.