huhtikuuta

Huhtikuu is the Finnish name for April, the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar. It has 30 days and lies between maaliskuu (March) and toukokuu (May). In everyday Finnish, dates are often written with the month name, for example huhtikuun 15. Huhtikuu marks the transition from winter to spring in Finland, and its weather can vary greatly by region.

The name huhtikuu derives from huhti, referring to the spring thaw, and the suffix -kuu that denotes a month. The month is inflected in several forms: nominative huhtikuu, genitive huhtikuun, and partitive/accusative huhtikuuta. These forms are used in different grammatical constructions, such as huhtikuun lopussa (at the end of April) or huhtikuuta kuluessa (as April passes).

In Finland, huhtikuu is characterized by warming temperatures and increasing daylight, though late snow and chilly spells can still occur, especially in the north. The ground often thaws and nature begins to awaken, with trees starting to bud and gardens being prepared for the growing season. Rain and muddy conditions are common as snow disappears and soils dry.

Culturally, huhtikuu appears in calendars and date expressions and is associated with the broader arrival of spring activities and outdoor life. Holidays such as Easter can fall in huhtikuu in some years, depending on the lunar calendar, while other spring celebrations typically occur later in the season.