April Fool's Day - All Fools
Day
April Fools Day or All
Fools’ Day is generally celebrated on April 1, with jokes and pranks
being the order of the day. Adding
the Hilaria in ancient Rome, celebrated March 25, the fact that both
occur around the Vernal Equinox, is not a coincidence.
Both celebrations see the coming of spring as a time of rebirth
amid the changing seasons and weather patterns of spring.
Unpredictability mixed with fertility and we see many countries
using this time to let loose and enjoy.
The changes made to the
Gregorian calendar by Charles IX of France in 1582 resulted in the
pranks and jokes day we tend to celebrate as April Fools Day.
The King moved New Year from end March – April 1st
to the January 1st spot it holds today.
Thus began the issuing of invitations to non-existent soirees and
masked balls to those who forgot the move of the holiday.
Public humiliation was the goal and none were safe from the
prankster’s work. The
victim, often called Poisson D’Avril (April Fish)
in France, a Noodle in England and so forth.
If tricks and pranks
are played after the noon hour, they rebound back to the prankster and
it’s said his year progresses with bad luck after that.
© JLeeDavis |
