Photo courtesy of Islandcrisis.netHappy April 1st, or April Fool's Day! I found a little history of this holiday for you over on Homeschooling Fun on About.com!
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. (This is taken directly from Homeschooling Fun on About.com)
Do you have any good jokes or tricks that you have played on someone? Or were you the one that was pranked? I would love to hear some stories! I don't really have any, but I thought about telling my hubby we were expecting our 5th child! I changed my mind quickly though, I think he might have a minor heart attack or leave me!! ;)
Disclosure: I am not expecting or planning on expecting anytime soon! I don't want the rumor started that I am! :)
I don't play too many tricks because it is my brother's b-day so we would always celebrate it as his birthday. My aunt did trick him one time and put his gift in a box that was for a light fixture. It was hilarious because at first he thought that is what he was getting. He was pretty good though and just had a strange look on his face LOL
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