April Fool's day: Origin and history

 

Although it is unknown where April Fools' Day first originated, many different cultures have celebrated it for many millennia. It is always observed on April 1. It's customary to play practical jokes or hoaxes on other people on April 1st, yelling "April Fools!" at the conclusion to identify the intended victim. The unofficial holiday has a long history, despite the fact that its exact beginnings are unclear, as a result of the media and well-known corporations' acceptance of jokes on April 1st.

The history of April 1

Some scholars contend that April 1st was first celebrated in France in 1582, the year that nation switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendars, as required by the Council of Trent in 1563. In both the Julian and Hindu dates, the new year began at the spring equinox, which took place around April 1.

Because they were slow to adjust or didn't realize that the new year had been moved to January 1, people who honored the new year from the final week of March through April 1 were called "April fools." They were given the nickname "poisson d'avril" (April fish), which is thought to be a representation of a young, readily caught fish and a credulous individual.

Hilaria in Roman antiquity

Additionally, historians have connected April Fool's Day to celebrations like Hilaria (Latin for cheerful), which Cybele devotees observed at the end of March in ancient Rome. It was said to have been influenced by the Egyptian legend of Isis, Osiris, and Seth and involved people dressing up in disguises and making fun of fellow residents as well as judges.

The Vernal Equinox and April Fools' Day

The genesis of April Fools' Day is believed to be the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Mother Nature tricked people with unforeseen weather shifts on this day.

April Fools' Day history

April Fools' Day expanded throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the custom evolved into a two-day celebration that included "hunting the gowk," during which people were sent on fictitious errands (the word "gowk" is a play on the word "fool"), and "Taillie Day," which involved playing practical jokes on people's behinds by attaching fake tails or "kick me" signs to them.

There are regional differences in how April Fools' Day is observed, but they all involve making someone look foolish. For instance, in France, a person who has been tricked is referred to as a "April fish" (poisson d'avril), possibly in reference to a young fish that is therefore simple to catch; it is common for French kids to pin a paper fish to the backs of their unwitting peers.

Happy April Fools' Day Everyone!

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Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/April-Fools-Day

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/april-fools-day

 


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