By Jacqueline Kelly –
Most of the things that we do in our daily lives follow procedures that come from the past. They are habits and customs that were created through the centuries and that should continue in Western Civilization with small variations according to customs of this or that people. These traditions are not linked directly to the law of God or morals, but reflect the good ways of living of different peoples. For this reason, when a great people or institution adopts, it is because its efficiency was already tested and approved for generations as a good or even excellent way to act in a concrete situation. They come from the past and have the natural tendency to continue into the future. Things become fixed in a certain way because they work well that way. One may change the custom, but only to improve it, not to destroy it. Even if they have been reduced in our days to their simplest expressions, they are still an inheritance from the past. Some of the traditions and customs are guidelines that provide ways to live and act, and have always been strong in the Christian world.
There are certain unique customs and practices which are being followed by people for centuries all over the world. The reasons for their origin are not known with certainty. April 1, is one such day. It is considered the Fools’ Day in nearly all parts of the world.
The practice of playing tricks on friends and neighbours on 1st April is believed to have started in France after the year 1564. Before that one common calendar was used throughout Europe. According to this calendar, each New Year began on 1st April. People celebrated this day as New Year’s Day by exchanging gifts and visiting each other. In 1564, however, Charles IX, the King of France, ordered people to adopt a new reformed calendar. According to this calendar the year began on January 1. Most people followed the King’s orders. However, there were some who did not like the idea of a change and refused to accept January 1, as New Year’s Day.
These people soon became the butt of jokes and tricks by their friends and neighbours because they continued to observe 1st April as New Year’s Day. Their friends and neighbours sent mock gifts, invited them to fake parties and played tricks on them because they were considered fools who clung on to a discarded New Year’s Day. Since then 1st April became the Fools’ Day.
The theory about its being linked to the reform of the Gregorian calendar in the late 16th century is thought to be the most widely accepted. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new calendar- the Gregorian calendar- to replace the old Julian calendar, for use throughout Christendom. The new calendar called for New Year’s Day to be celebrated on January 1, instead of the usual April 1, as had been declared earlier in France.
April was the second month in an early Roman calendar, but became the fourth when the ancient Romans started using January as the first month. The name of the month of April originally came from Aprillis which means ‘to open’.
April is the humour month. Small animals that hibernate usually come out of their burrows in April. The birds fly back northwards and settle down to have their families. The bees and butterflies begin to gather nectar from the first flowers of the season. In some parts of the world, it is planting time, while in other parts, it is harvest season.
It resembles other festivals, such as the Hilaria of ancient Rome [March 25] and the Holi festival of India [ending March 31]. Its timing seems related to the vernal equinox [March 21], when nature “fools” mankind with sudden changes in the weather.
We are also told that in medieval days, Kings in Europe kept people of wit and humour to play the role of Court Jesters. They played an active part in enlivening the castles and palaces dressed in special attire with a long cap and tinkling bells. These jesters are also known as clowns who, with their slap stick pranks, entertain young and old alike in circus rings. Such entertainers are also found in movies like Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges, etc. In India, Birbal was appointed by Emperor Akbar [1556-1562] and was one of the most important courtiers, part of a group called the Navaratnas [nine jewels]. He was a close friend of the Emperor, who appreciated him for his wit and wisdom, often involving humorous exchanges. They have become part of a rich tradition of folklore and legend.
In Germany, an April Fool prank is sometimes revealed by shouting “April, April” at the recipient, who becomes the “April Fool”.
In Ireland, it was traditional to entrust the victim with an “important letter” to be given to a named person. That person would read the letter, then ask the victim to take it to someone else, and so on. The letter when opened contained the words “send the fool further”.
In Iran, it is called “Dorugh-e-Sizdah” [lie of thirteen] and people and media prank on 13 Farvarding [Sizdah bedar] that is equivalent of 1st April. It is a tradition that takes place 13 days after the Persian New Year Nowruz. On this day, people go out and leave their houses and have fun outside mostly in natural parks. Pranks have reportedly been played on this holiday in the Achaemenid Empire since 536 B.C.
In Lebanon, an April Fool prank is revealed by saying “First of April Lie” in Arabic.
In Turkey, the custom is called “Nisan Baliği” [April Fish”]. Pranks and jokes are usually verbal and are revealed by shouting “Bir Nisan! / Nisan Bir” [April 1].
In Italy, it is called Pesce d’aprile.The most common prank is taping a paper fish to someone’s back. The media like to prank the public on 1st April with silly stories, but sometimes they are the ones being pranked.
In France and French- speaking areas of Switzerland and Canada, April 1, tradition is often known as “April Fish” [Poisson d’avril]. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th to early 20th century French April Fools’ Day postcards. Many newspapers also spread a false story on April Fools’ Day and a subtle reference to a fish is sometimes given as a clue to the fact that it is an April Fools’ prank. Boulangeries, Pâtisseries and Chocolatiers in France sell chocolate fishes in their shop windows on that day.
In Belgium, April Fool’s Day is April Vis in Dutch. Possible pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim’s back without being noticed.
In Nordic countries, the Danes, Finns, Icelanders, Norwegians and Swedish celebrate April Fool’s Day. [Aprilsnar in Danish, Aprillipäivä in Finnish; Aprilsnarr in Norwegian; Aprilskämt in Swedish.
Most media outlets will publish exactly one false story on April 1; for newspapers this will typically be a first-page article but not the top headline.
In Finland, jokes are played on people in the morning, because people still haven’t realized it’s April 1. If they get away with the trick, they sing a line that translates as “It’s April, eat herring and drink dirt water on top”.
In Poland, Prima Aprillis [First April in Latin] as a day of pranks is a centuries-long tradition. It is a day when many pranks are played. Sometimes, very sophisticated hoaxes are prepared by the media, institutions and the people to make the “information” credible. Serious activities are usually avoided; every word uttered on 1st April, could be untrue. The conviction for this is so strong that the Polish anti-Turkish alliance with Leopold I, signed on April 1, 1683, was back-dated to March 31, However for some in Poland, Prima April ends at noon of April 1, and jokes after that hour are considered inappropriate.
In Sweden, they have a special saying , “April, april dun dumma sill, jag kan lura dig vart jag vill”, which means “April, April, you silly herring, I can fool you anywhere I want to”. If you don’t say this , then apparently the April Fool is incomplete. Swedish newpapers and television companies too, play pranks on the public.
In Ukraine, April Fools’ Day is widely celebrated in Odesa and has the special local name Humorina- [Ukrainian]. This holiday arose in 1973. An April Fool prank is revealed by saying [“Pervoye Aprelya, nikomu ne very”] translating as “First of April, I trust nobody”] to the recipient.
The festival includes a large parade in the city centre, free concerts, street fairs and performances. Festival participants dress up in a variety of costumes and walk around the city fooling around and pranking passersby.
One of the traditions on April Fools’ Day is to dress up the main city monument in funny clothes. This day has its own logo- a cheerful sailor in a lifebelt- whose author was the artist Arkady Tsykun. During the festival, special souvenirs bearing the logo are printed and sold. Since 2010, the Fools’ Day celebrations include an International Clown Festival, and both celebrated as one. In 2019, the festival was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Odesa Film Studio and all events were held with an emphasis on cinema.
In the United Kingdom, an April Fool prank is revealed by shouting “April Fool” at the recipient, who becomes the “April Fool”. This custom ceases at noon, after which time it is no longer acceptable to play pranks. A person playing a prank after mid-day is considered an “April Fool”.
In England a “fool” is known by names around the country, including ‘noodle’, ‘gob’, ‘gobby’ or ‘noddy’.
In Scotland, April Fool’s Day is stretched for two days. It was originally called “Huntigowk Day”. Gowk being Scots for a cuckoo or a foolish person. In Gaelic would be Lἀ na Gocaireachd, “gowking day” or Lἀ Ruith na Cuthaige, “the day of running the cuckoo”. The traditional prank is to ask someone to deliver a sealed message which reads as “Dinna laugh, dinna smile. Hunt the gowk another mile”.
The next day is “Tailie Day” which is for largely harmless pranks, like pinning a sign or sticking a sign such as “kick me” on a friend’s back.
In Spain, they mark “El Dia de los Inocentes” [ April Fool’s Day is celebrated on 28th December, the Feast of Holy innocents], during which no one can be held accountable for their actions, as the pranksters are considered innocent. The celebration also involves having a town-wide food fight, complete with military strategy and historical lore. The “Els Enfarinats” tradition is more than two hundred years old and involves a mock military-style takeover of the town, where the new rulers get to make up strange laws that others have to abide by. If they don’t, they get fined and the money goes to charity. It is also accompanied with a little dancing and flour throwing.
In Brazil, April 1 is still the prank day of choice, and they call it “O Dia Das Mentiras” or “day of lies”. It has been popular since 1828.It is a day of spreading fake news, fake stories and practical jokes on social media and among friends to have some fun.
In Greece, they believe that if you successfully play a trick on someone on April 1, that it will bring you good luck for the rest of the year. The farming communities believe that pranks will bring a bountiful harvest and others even think that dancing in the rain on the first day of April has healing properties.
In the United States, people play harmless pranks on friends, family members and colleagues. Some popular pranks include swapping sugar for salt or setting up fake office supplies.
Apart from being a day filled with jokes and pranks, April Fools’ Day holds a deeper significance for the human race. It is a reminder that we should enjoy life as much as possible as it not only brings laughter but also strengthens social ties with our family and friends. April Fools’ Day can be celebrated in the office, schools or at home within boundaries so that it does not offend anyone.
Easter and April Fools’ Day coincided in the following years: 1714, 1725, 1736, 1804, 1866, 1877, 1888.
Since 1900, Easter has fallen on April Fools’ Day in 1923, 1934, 1945, 1956, 2018 and will happen in 2029.