Safire
03-31-2004, 08:44 PM
Tomorrow is April Fools' Day! Thought I'd give you the heads up so you can plan your pranks...
How did April Fools' Day begin?
In France in the sixteenth century, the start of a new year was celebrated on April 1 after a week of celebrations in late March. In 1582, however, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for Christians and the date of the new year then fell on January 1. Some people never heard the news, or didn't believe it, or didn't care -- and continued to celebrate New Year's in April. Others called them "April fools" and played tricks on them, such as inviting them to non-existent functions, sending them on false errands, or giving them false news. Practical jokes, of course, are still played on April Fools' Day and can be very elaborate. Sometimes the news media likes to participate. A British short film once shown on April Fools' Day was a "documentary" about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees. (Anyone in the US remember this? It played here also.)
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Is April Fools' Day still celebrated in France?
Yes. It's called "Poisson d'Avril" and on this holiday French children fool friends by taping a paper fish to the friends' backs. When the trick is discovered by the victim, the child yells "Poisson d'Avril" or "April Fish!" Where does the "fish" come from? In April the sun is leaving the zodiacal sign of Pisces, the fish. Napoleon I, emperor of France, was nicknamed "April fish" when he married his second wife on April 1, 1810.
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Where does April Fools' Day last 48 hours?
In Scotland, April Fools' Day is called "Taily Day" and it lasts two days, during which pranks involving the posterior are played.
How did April Fools' Day begin?
In France in the sixteenth century, the start of a new year was celebrated on April 1 after a week of celebrations in late March. In 1582, however, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for Christians and the date of the new year then fell on January 1. Some people never heard the news, or didn't believe it, or didn't care -- and continued to celebrate New Year's in April. Others called them "April fools" and played tricks on them, such as inviting them to non-existent functions, sending them on false errands, or giving them false news. Practical jokes, of course, are still played on April Fools' Day and can be very elaborate. Sometimes the news media likes to participate. A British short film once shown on April Fools' Day was a "documentary" about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees. (Anyone in the US remember this? It played here also.)
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Is April Fools' Day still celebrated in France?
Yes. It's called "Poisson d'Avril" and on this holiday French children fool friends by taping a paper fish to the friends' backs. When the trick is discovered by the victim, the child yells "Poisson d'Avril" or "April Fish!" Where does the "fish" come from? In April the sun is leaving the zodiacal sign of Pisces, the fish. Napoleon I, emperor of France, was nicknamed "April fish" when he married his second wife on April 1, 1810.
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Where does April Fools' Day last 48 hours?
In Scotland, April Fools' Day is called "Taily Day" and it lasts two days, during which pranks involving the posterior are played.