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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.
Paper fish are part of the festivities in France with pranksters
attempting to attach brightly colored paper fish to their victims
without being caught.
In Belgium, children
lock parents and teachers out, allowing them in only so long as they
promise to bring treats.
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.
© J Thompson
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