April Fool’s Day Survives Through The Centuries
You might want to keep an extra look out today especially on the internet and social media pages. Along with today being Easter it is also April fool’s Day. You heard it right Easter and April Fool’s Day are both on April 1st this year, no fooling. So while you spend the day with your Easter eggs and ham there might also be a few tricks up everyone’s sleeves.
How did this fool’s holiday get started? April Fool’s Day was originally popularized in England back in the 1700’s when many would spend the day, much like we do now, pulling pranks on each other. The origins of the holiday itself are a bit murkier. It is speculated that the holiday started in France around 1582 when the people were switching from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.
The Council of Trent called for the movement of the calendar back in 1563 and French leaders agreed to make the switch. However, for citizens there was a little bit of confusion. In the old Julian system the New Year was slated to start the last week of March into the first week of April. With the new Julian calendar the date of New Year’s was moved up to January 1st where it remains today. Lack of communication about the calendar switch left some people in the dark still celebrating the New Year in Mach instead of January.
These people were the brunt of many jokes. Some people even took it so far as to lay a fish on the back of those confused about the New Year. This symbolized that these people were gullible and foolish like a young wish waiting to be caught. April Fool’s Day also finds traditions in Scotland around the 18th century. The Scottish tradition became a two day festival where gullible victims were sent to “hunt a Gowk” a fictional bird. These traditions were followed by Tailie Day in which pranks were played on people including the introductions of the infamous “kick me” sign.
April Fool’s Day has survived through the centuries and now finds itself with new venues and ideas in our modern technological age. Today there is no doubt that you will see unusual and abnormal things, more so than usual, on the internet. Websites might look slightly different or your Facebook friends might take it upon themselves to say that they are engaged or have done something absurd to their hair.
Whatever jokes might find themselves available today don’t fall victim to them and if you do be ready for a good laugh. And to all the tricksters out there be safe and careful with your pranks. Happy April Fool’s Day from all of us at the Jefferson County Post!
