I will sorta kinda tell you how it started, thanks to my friend Wikipedia
The origin of April Fools' Day is obscure. One likely theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian Calendar which it replaced. In many pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signalled the start of the spring planting season. An April Fool was someone who did this prematurely.
Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors. In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the times of Noah. An English newspaper article published on April 13th, 1789 said that the day had its origins when he sent the raven off too early, before the waters had receded. He did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April. A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd.
The origin of April Fools' Day is obscure. One likely theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian Calendar which it replaced. In many pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signalled the start of the spring planting season. An April Fool was someone who did this prematurely.
Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors. In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the times of Noah. An English newspaper article published on April 13th, 1789 said that the day had its origins when he sent the raven off too early, before the waters had receded. He did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April. A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd.
9 comments:
Don't you just love Wikipedia?
It is quite amazing!
Bawhahaha! The third one in my favorite.
My oldest was almost in tears this morning because he didn't want it to be April. Maybe he was just tired.
Capt D - LOL! Poor lil guy! I used to cry in the morning because my mom would wake me up before I "finished". And by "finished" I mean finished dreaming. (perv) Made me very upset.
I never wanted to turn 5. I wanted to stay 4 forever. Ever since then, it's been my favorite number.
Random, I know. But I thought that was what we were doing in the comments.
MD - Well peep this! My birthday is on the 24th and my favorite number is 24 and that was my basketball number too! Add that to our list of "Why we are so cool as friends"
Thank you for some interesting background and theory..I just wish I was clever enough to pull off an elaborate April Fool's joke..Me thinks it would turn out too cruel, and not so funny.
Damon - I thank the Wiki...such a great lil place for info! I too am not much of a prankster...however, I can laugh at others better than myself! :)
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