|
Unlike most of the other nonfoolish
holidays, the history of April Fool's
Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. There really
wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed on the calendar.
Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the
same time, from celebrations involving the first dayof spring.
The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this
tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was
celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration
culminated
on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian
Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1.
However, communications being what they were in the days when news
traveled
by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others,
the
more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to
celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as
"fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and
were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other
practical jokes.
This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on
the
first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and
Scotland
in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American
colonies
of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus developed into an
international fun fest, so to speak, with different nationalities
specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends
and families.
Refernce: topic in
soc.culture.venezuela by
duKe jaVieR
|
