Have you ever fallen prey to an April Fools' Day prank? I must be honest, I haven't had any good ones done to me. Oops! With the friends I have, that bit of news might prove to be detrimental!
Ever wondered what it is all about?
There are so many theories about why and when this tradition started. Following is the most "plausible" one (in my opinion) -
Ancient cultures, including those as varied as the Romans and the Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on or around April 1st. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar, the Gregorian Calender, to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. 1st. That year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year's day to Jan. 1st. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.
Superstition has it that the 'pranking period' expires at noon on the 1st of April and any jokes attempted after that time will call bad luck down onto the head of the perpetrator. Additionally, those who fail to respond with good humour to tricks played upon them are said to attract bad luck to themselves. Not all superstitions about the day are negative, though — fellas fooled by a pretty girl are said to be fated to end up married to her, or at least enjoy a healthy friendship with the lass.
In Scotland, an April fool is called an April "gowk" — Scottish for cuckoo, an emblem of simpletons. In England, a fool is called a "gob", "gawby" or "gobby". In France, the victim of a hoax is called a "poisson d'avril," an April fish. ("April fish" refers to a young fish, thus one easily caught.)
The media also can't resist getting into the act. Remember the headlines in the Cape Times of a few years ago. It read something to the effect of, "All the cabinet ministers have chosen to give up their salaries and perks, fancy cars and homes, and donate everything to charity." Yeah, right!! This caused a huge reaction. And a good few years ago, the headlines in a Johannesburg newspaper read that all the traffic cops were going to have their motorcycles replaces with Porsches! Apparently this caused the mother of all outcries!
Have you ever been the lucky recipient of a good prank? Or did you get someone this year? Please share your stories!
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