April brings a series of holidays, from Easter to Arbor Day. Most cultures and religions have a central spring holiday. Here’s a quick look at some of April’s biggest holidays.

Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus three days after his crucifixion. The holiday also marks the end of Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer and penance. Religious celebrations include a complex Easter Vigil that begins on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Secular celebrations include the coloring of hard-boiled eggs, playing games with eggs such as egg-rolling and egg-hiding, and giving children baskets of candy, (delivered by the Easter Bunny, of course!). This year, Easter takes place on April 8th.

Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival that commemorates the story of Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. It is said that when the Israelites were freed, they fled in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread dough to rise or leaven. Observant Jews remove all chametz (leavening) from their homes for the duration of the holiday, which lasts seven or eight days, and replace it with matzah, a flat unleavened bread. On the first night of Passover, it is traditional to gather with one’s family for a special dinner called a seder, during which the story of Exodus from Egypt is retold and symbolic food is eaten. This year, Passover lasts from sunset of April 6 to nightfall of the 13th or 14th.

April is also a month to celebrate nature, with both Arbor Day and Earth Day celebrated. On Arbor Day, planting and caring for trees is encouraged. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day. Arbor Day always takes place on the last friday in April. This year, it’s observed on April 28. Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. This year, the Earth Day Network urges everyone to “pledge an act of green,” whether it’s to eat more whole plant-based foods, or encourage more recycling in the work place.   Earth Day is observed on April 22.

So, whatever you choose to celebrate this April, take the time to learn about the great variety of holidays observed around the world this month, and enjoy!

April is Foot Health Awareness Month! The American Podiatric Medical Association knows that many people don’t think much about their feet until they encounter podiatric problems, so they’ve dedicated this month to raising awareness about how to take good care of your feet.

Foot health is a concern for a surprising number of people of all ages. 72 percent of Americans say they do not exercise because foot pain prevents them from doing so, according to a recent APMA survey, and 47 percent of Americans suffer from a foot ailment. Seniors have more foot concerns than any other age group, with 87 percent of older adults having at least one foot problem.

Luckily, many foot ailments are easily preventable. Examining your feet regularly, wearing comfortable shoes that fit, washing your feet daily with soap and lukewarm water and trimming your toenails straight across and not too short can prevent blisters, cracks, ingrown nails and fungal infections.

Your foot health can also be a clue for your overall health. Stiffness in the joints of your feet might be a sign of arthritis, and tingling or numbness could mean diabetes, which often causes a loss of feeling in the feet. Swelling in the feet can be a sign of kidney disease, heart disease or high blood pressure.

Your foot health isn’t only a sign for the rest of your health. Since your feet are your mode of getting around, it’s no surprise that your foot health can also affect your health at large. For seniors, getting treatment for foot pain can improve balance, which greatly reduces the risk of falling. Healthy feet makes exercising—even short walks—easier, which can have immense benefits for your health.

For people of any age, treatment for your foot ailment is very important. See a doctor or foot specialist right away if you notice:
- a sore on your foot that doesn’t heal or gets infected
- pain when you walk that stops when you rest
- unusual coldness, cramps, numbness or tingling
- diminished sensitivity to foot pain, hot or cold
- the skin on your feet or legs changes color
- a change in the shape or structure of your foot

Spend April developing good habits in your foot health. Happy feet make a happier you!

Spring brings lovely weather and the opportunity to go outdoors more often. However, many people suffer from allergies, which get worse in the spring thanks to the pollen and ragweed season. Pollen and pollutants can cause anyone to have difficulty breathing, but they can be particularly problematic for those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Breathing problems are common among the elderly, and allergies can aggravate preexisting issues.

Take a few steps to help you or your loved on get some relief from spring allergies. Find your triggers. Do certain budding trees or flowers make your allergies worse? Maybe hot, windy days are more problematic than cooler breezy days. Pay attention to what aggravates your allergies and avoid triggers. Also, try to stay inside during the mornings. Between 5 and 10 a.m., pollen counts are higher than during any other time of day.

Allergies aren’t just an outdoor problem, however. Studies show that the levels of indoor pollution in U.S. homes exceed the levels of outdoor pollution by 2 to 100 times. Make sure your air conditioning systems have the proper air filters. Regularly dusting and cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture can help rid your living environment of pollutants. Leaving windows open allows pollen to drift in on the breeze. If you go outside and come back in, you’re bringing in allergens with you. If you’re sensitive to pollen, changing clothes or taking a shower after being outside can help cut allergies short.

Remember, there’s no reason to suffer from allergies. Check with your doctor to see if over-the-counter remedies like nasal sprays or antihistamines are safe for you to use. If your allergies are more severe, your primary care doctor should be able to administer a simple allergy test to see what’s causing the problem.

Don’t let allergies keep you or your loved ones from enjoying the spring weather. Get outside and take advantage of the sunshine!

Every March, National Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of women throughout history. Whether they are activists, artists, scientists, sports stars, entrepreneurs or educators, National Women’s History Month champions their accomplishments and encourages us all to make sure women are remembered and upheld where they were previously overlooked.

This year, the National Women’s History Project named the annual theme as “Women’s Education—Women’s Empowerment,” to recognize in particular the leadership of women and their impact on education.

Here’s a quick look at 2012’s honorees, noted for their revolutionary work in educational fields.

Emma Hart Willard (1787-1870) – Women Higher Education Pioneer
Emma Willard was born into a world that did not value the schooling of girls, but nonetheless was a student and eventually a teacher and principal herself, trailblazing the way for a new focus on academia and scholarship rather than “finishing school” niceties of “youth and beauty” for women’s education.

Charlotte Forten Grimke (1837-1914) – Freedman Bureau Educator
Born in Philadelphia to an affluent and educated black family, Forten beat the odds to be the first black woman to teach white children in Massachusetts, and the first to teach on the island of St. Helena in South Carolina. She was also employed by the U.S. Treasury Department, worked as an abolitionist, and published poetry.

Annie Sullivan (1866-1936) – Disability Education Architect
Most recognizable to the millions of people who have seen The Miracle Worker, William Gibson’s play about the education of Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan was born to Irish immigrants. Despite nearly being blind herself, she went on to transform the life of Helen Keller, her deaf and blind student. Together, they lived, worked, traveled and lectured on the importance of education for all.

Gracia Molina de Pick (1929-) – Feminist Educational Pioneer
Born in Mexico City in 1930, Molina de Pick founded and wrote the curriculum for the first Associate’s Degree in Chicana/Chicano Studies, and founded several organizations that bring together her passions for women’s equality, native communities, and labor and immigrants’ rights. She contributed heavily to the 1970 blueprint for Higher Education for Mexican-Americans.

Okolo Rashid (1949-) – Community Development Activist and Historical Preservation Advocate
Born in Mississippi in 1949, Okolo Rashid grew up in the midst of racial upheaval in the south. In her life-long advocacy for social justice, Rashid founded the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson, Mississippi, and has worked tirelessly to facilitate multicultural and interfaith tolerance.

Brenda Flyswithhawks (1950-) American Indian Advocate and Educator
A member of the Eastern Band of the Tsalagi (Cherokee) Nation, Dr. Flyswithhawks was one of the first women in the Cherokee Nation to receive a Ph.D., and works as a psychologist and advocate for the American Indian community. In her initiation of the national SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Project, Dr. Flyswithhawks promotes discussion focused on ways to make school climates and curricula more gender-fair and inclusive of all cultural perspectives.

These women are all recognized as pioneers in their fields, but it’s very likely that there are women you personally know and love who have been great teachers in your life. Take the time this month to celebrate the women close to you.

For more information about the National Women’s History Project, visit their website here: http://nwhp.org/