According to Internet Media: Check your chairs for whoopee cushions, your phones for superglue, and the back of your sweaters for "Kick me hard!" signs. It's April Fool's Day!
The history of April Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX.
The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from a weeklong celebration starting March 25th and continuing to April 1st, to the single day of Jan. 1.
News traveled slowly in those days. Some people were not aware of the change until several years later.
These people were labeled fools by the general public. They were subjected to ridicule and sent on fools errands. They were sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played on them.
The butts of these pranks became known as a Poisson d' Avril or April Fish, because a young, naive fish is easily caught.
The custom of prank-playing continued on the first day of April.
The tradition eventually spread to Britian and Scotland in the 18th Century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French.
Other countries celebrate April Fool's Day in their own way.
In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called gobs or gobby and the victim of a joke is called a noodle. It was considered bad luck to play a joke on someone after noon.
In Rome, the holiday is known as a Festival of Hilaria, in honor of the god Attis. It is on March 25th and is also referred to as Roman Laughing Day.
In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before Lent. During their festivities, people throw flour at their friends.
The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31st in India. People play jokes on one another and splash colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring.
Although April Fool's Day is not a legal holiday, the day is marked all over the world by the commission of funny jokes, hoaxes and other practical jokes.
Enjoy celebrating April Fool's Day with your own traditions. Watch out for flying water balloons and keep your antennae up!
Source of information for this article: www.april-fools.us/history
The history of April Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX.
The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from a weeklong celebration starting March 25th and continuing to April 1st, to the single day of Jan. 1.
News traveled slowly in those days. Some people were not aware of the change until several years later.
These people were labeled fools by the general public. They were subjected to ridicule and sent on fools errands. They were sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played on them.
The butts of these pranks became known as a Poisson d' Avril or April Fish, because a young, naive fish is easily caught.
The custom of prank-playing continued on the first day of April.
The tradition eventually spread to Britian and Scotland in the 18th Century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French.
Other countries celebrate April Fool's Day in their own way.
In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called gobs or gobby and the victim of a joke is called a noodle. It was considered bad luck to play a joke on someone after noon.
In Rome, the holiday is known as a Festival of Hilaria, in honor of the god Attis. It is on March 25th and is also referred to as Roman Laughing Day.
In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before Lent. During their festivities, people throw flour at their friends.
The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31st in India. People play jokes on one another and splash colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring.
Although April Fool's Day is not a legal holiday, the day is marked all over the world by the commission of funny jokes, hoaxes and other practical jokes.
Enjoy celebrating April Fool's Day with your own traditions. Watch out for flying water balloons and keep your antennae up!
Source of information for this article: www.april-fools.us/history
