The First Day of April

Rather than being pranksters, we thought it would be fun to share some facts about April Fool’s Day and found these on funtrivia.com

1.  In which country do most people think that April Fools’ Day originated?

France

April the first is commonly known as April Fool’s Day or All Fools’ Day in most English speaking countries. The custom is believed to have started in France when the Gregorian calendar was adopted by King Charles IX in 1582. In this calendar the new year started on January 1. People who did not use the new date but still celebrated on April 1st became the butt of jokes.

2.  Even the ancient Romans had a day of jokes.  When did it take place?

Festival of Hilaria

This day is also known as Roman Laughing Day. In ancient Rome, the festival of Hilaria was held to celebrate the god Attis. Hilaria is probably where we get the words “hilarious” and “hilarity” from.

3.  In which country are you called an ‘April gowk’ rather than an ‘April fool’?  If you’re a Sassenach, you might not know this.

Scotland

A ‘gowk’ is the Scottish word for ‘cuckoo’. Sassenach is a Scottish term for one who is not a Scot, usually referring to someone from England.

4.  April the first, at one time, was New Year’s Day

This was changed on the introduction of the Gregorian calendar.

5.  April is named for a Latin word – aprilis.  What does this word mean?

To open

The definition is not known for sure, but it is generally considered that the name comes from the Latin word aprilis, which means to open.  Another theory is that it comes from the Greek Aphrodite.

6.  On April 1st, 1957, the BBC played a practical joke on its viewers.  A program showed a certain product being harvested in Switzerland.  What was it?

Spaghetti

The highly acclaimed documentary program “Panorama” showed strands of spaghetti being plucked from bushes.  This resulted in many phone calls to the BBC, most of which were from viewers who believed the tale and wanted to know where they could buy spaghetti plants!

7.  Mexico does not observe April 1st, but it does have a special day to play pranks.  In what moth is this day?

December

December 28th is the day that Mexicans play jokes on each other. At one time this was a day to remember the killing of the young children by King Herod.  However, over time it became a happier day of pranks and foolish jokes.

8.  In France you don’t sat ‘April Fool – you say April ____’?

Fish

French children often play tricks on their friends by sticking a paper fish on their posteriors.   When the fish is discovered his friends yell “Poisson d’avril!”

9.   Who made this statement?  “The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.”

Mark Twain

From Pudd’nhead Wilson’s Calendar.

10.  Some countries have days of prank playing in the days immediately before the start of Lent.  This prank consists of throwing a certain substance at other people.  What is this common substance?

Flour

The tradition in Portugal, Jamaica and some other countries, is to throw flour at your friends!  As Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, which is usually at the end of February or beginning of March, these prank days are usually in February.  In Mexico eggs are filled with flour and cracked on people’s heads.

Happy April to all of our Chums.  May your month be full of love and joy!