Does anyone know how April Fool's Day originated? Why is it a day
devoted to pranks?
Origin of April Fool's Day
by Kenneson 6 Replies latest jw friends
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Kenneson
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slipnslidemaster
It originated in France during the middle ages. A Roman Catholic monk, St. Fols used to hide the quill's that were used for pens in translating the manuscripts at the monastary.
Eventually, the practice extended to other small "pranks" by the priests and monks in the surrounding French monastaries. Cardinal Fransesco de Montery found the practice deplorable and blasphemus and he ordered the Inquistion to "question" the Priest. After this questioning, the practice stopped.
A century later, an account was found and read to the Pope, Pope Elasticus IIV and he had Fol cannonized as a Saint, the patron Saint of Laughter. The church never admitted to anything but they increasing taught that laughter was part of communion with Christ.
As the account of St. Fol's because widely known, more and more people started playing small pranks on people. It seemed to happen more and more in the Spring due to the warmer weather and being cooped up during the long winters. Hence, April 1st because April Fol's day or April Fool's day as we know it today.
Slipnslidemaster: "Easter so longed for is gone in a day."
- James Howell -
bitter mango
The first of April, some do say,
Is set apart for All Fools' Day.
But why the people call it so,
Nor I, nor they themselves do know.
But on this day are people sent
On purpose for pure merriment.
~Poor Robin's Almanac (1790)
HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY -
Scully
http://www.usis.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/april.html
In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools." They sent them on a "fool's errand" or tried to make them believe that something false was true. In France today, April first is called "Poisson d'Avril." French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool" discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d’Avril!" (April Fish!)
Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied." Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say to pupils, "Look! A flock of geese!" and point up. School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster yells, "April Fool! "
The "fools' errands" we play on people are practical jokes. Putting salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is not a nice trick to play on a stranger. College students set their clocks an hour behind, so their roommates show up to the wrong class - or not at all. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the victim realizes what day it is. Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool joke is the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played.
The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. - American humorist Mark Twain
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slipnslidemaster
Just for the record, I made my explaination up in honor of April Fools Day.
Slipnslidemaster:"Every man dies, not every man really lives.
-William WallaceUnseen Apostate Directorate of North America
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Celia
Slip,
and it was a very witty explanation, I loved it,
but I knew about the Gregorian calendar (being french and all)... -
slipnslidemaster
I like french kissing.
Slipnslidemaster:"I worked very hard and I earned all the attention I'm getting."
- Anna KournikovaUnseen Apostate Directorate of North America