Today is April Fool's Day. This is not recognized as a national holiday in any country. It is only an important day for people who love to play practical jokes. To these individuals, this day is more important than any other on the calendar.
There was a time when April Fool's Day did not exist. I wonder if it got started some time in the past when all practical jokers in the world got together. They probably decided to create an unrecognized holiday to celebrate their favorite pastime. They probably did it as a practical joke.
History
One of the first recorded connections between foolishness and April 1 is found in “The Canterbury Tales” by Chaucer written in 1392. In the book, the cock Chauntecleer is tricked by a fox. Sounds right. I just have images of Chaucer laughing as he wrote this thinking how ridiculous it sounded and yelling “April Fools.”
In the 1500s, a Flemish poet Eduard de Dene wrote about an April Fool holiday where a nobleman would send his servants on foolish errands. I bet the servants laughed as the nobleman ate his food and did not know what they had done to it.
During the late 1600s, many people in England were annually tricked on April 1 to visit the Tower of London believing they would see lions being washed. Makes you wonder why washing a lion would be such a big attraction.
APRIL FOOLS DAY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
United Kingdom
A study in the 1950s discovered that shouting “April fool” after a playing practical joke on April 1 is standard in the UK and around the world. In most countries, the jokes must be done before midday. They believe if the practical joke is done after midday, the person doing the joke is the April fool. I can state with conviction that we in the practical joke playing community refuse to acknowledge time limitations on playing practical jokes on April 1.
Ireland
In the Emerald Isle, it is a tradition to give a letter to a person and tell them it's important and must be given to a specific person. When the letter is delivered it will read “send the fool further.” The person will then say the letter must be taken to another person. I guess this is a tradition that has been happening for a long time. If that's the case, how stupid is the person who falls for it? How can you not know this is being done to you? I bet they could get these people to watch lion washing at the Tower of London if they really tried.
Italy, France, Switzerland, Canada and Belgium
In these countries, April fools day is referred to as “April Fish.” During the day people attempt to attach a paper fish to a person's back without being noticed. This is pretty sad. Don't they know attaching a sign that says “kick me” on a person's back is a much better practical joke?
Norway, Denmark and Sweden
In these countries, April Fools' Day is a media event. Most news media outlets will publish approximately one false story. On April 1; newspapers publish the false story as a first-page article. Newspapers in the United States do that too often. It's almost like some U.S. newspapers celebrate Norwegian, Dane and Swede April Fools Day 365 days a year.
Poland
This is a country that loves April Fools Day. In Poland, the day is filled with hoaxes by people, media, public institutions and more. It is so popular that serious activities are avoided during this day. I wonder if sales of fake kielbasa and pierogies increase on this day?
Legendary April Fools Day Joke
A news show in Britain in 1957 broadcast a three-minute story about a large spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland. The story said this was a result of the disappearance of the spaghetti weevil. It provided video of Swiss families taking pasts off spaghetti trees. It had a huge response. People were calling the BBC and asking how to grow a spaghetti tree. The BBC told them to put a sprig of spaghetti in a can of tomato sauce and hope for the best.
SPAGHETTI HARVEST VIDEO
I don't believe this for a minute. I tried to grow a spaghetti tree and it doesn't work. (April fools!)
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