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 |