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APRIL FOOL!

April 1st – April Fool! Pranks and jokes are allowed on that day. Why? It is uncertain when and why this custom began.

It is known that in 1700 English pranksters popularized the annual tradition of April Fool’s Day by playing jokes on each other. At that time it was called “All Fool’s Day.”

The actual origin remains a mystery and precedes that year and place. In France the custom dates back to 1582 when the French finally switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian one so dates were moved around a bit. Those who were slow to adopt the new calendar became the butt of jokes and hoaxes…April Fools.

Pranks of those times often included secretly attaching a paper fish on a victim’s back which symbolized an easily hooked fish and a gullible fellow.

Victor Hugo wrote of Quasimoto, in the book “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” who was chosen as King of Fools in a festival akin to April Fool’s Day. Poor Quasimoto suffered a cruel whipping as punishment by his keeper which was certainly no joke.

The first of April is observed in many countries and in various ways. Most declare the pranks are to end at noon or the prankster becomes the fool.

One well known prank was pulled in 1957 by the BBC with news of the “Spaghetti Harvest” which was exceptionally good as it was picked from the trees and shrubs providing really fresh home grown spaghetti. Strangely, the joke was believed by many listeners who called in wanting to order some of those spaghetti trees… April Fool!

Virgin Airlines landed a “flying saucer” with a silver man aboard. Actually, it proved to be a hot air balloon.

Here are some ideas for you: fake fried eggs for breakfast, googly eyes on fruit, short the sheets, fake creepy crawlies, or sending someone on a “fool’s errand.” All are sure to get a shout of “April Fool!” followed by a hearty laugh.

So, who will be the April Fool this year? I hope it is not me…or you…

– MG

Contributed by Marilyn Goodwin