The First Day of April

How did we come upon April fools Day?

According to Trivia Genius:

“One of the most commonly cited theories around April Fools’ Day involves France’s transition from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, which moved the start of the new year from the vernal equinox to January 1. People who were not up to speed on the change celebrated the new year late and were ridiculed for it.  One of the most popular pranks,, according to History.com, was to put a paper fish — called a “poisson d’avril,” or April fish — on the backs of the delayed revelers. The fish was meant to mark an easy-to-catch or gullible person, otherwise known as an “April fool.”

It’s a popular (and plausible) theory, but there are other, even earlier references to the holiday elsewhere. In 1561, a Flemish writer published a comical poem about a nobleman who sent his servant to do a series of ridiculous errands on April 1. In the poem, the servant appears to recognize that he might be the butt of an April 1 joke, repeatedly stating that he hopes the nobleman isn’t sending him on a “fool’s errand.”

According to the Library of Congress, John Aubrey also wrote about April Fools’ Day in the late 17th century — though not, it should be noted, about how it started. In fact, the question of how April Fools’ Day originated was a mystery even back then. As early as 1708, a British magazine asked, “Whence proceeds the custom of making April Fools?” Unfortunately, we may never get a definitive answer.”

There is one marvelous thing that we are sure came about on April the First and that was the arrival of our darling Hilary! Wishing you the happiest of days.

We always love hearing the stories of how things have come about. We hope you do as well!

Don’t be fooled!