It’s March 31st. The last day of the month and tomorrow marks the beginning of a new one, but it’s unlike all the others. Do you know why? Yep, that’s right. It’s April’s Fool Day! Will you be tricked? There’s a good chance someone will get you before the day ends.
Before I jump into my memes, I thought it would be an interesting to learn about some of the history connected to this crazy day. This is what I pulled from the web.
The history of April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year’s Day moved from March 25 – April 1 (new year’s week) to January 1.
Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still, others who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1.
These people labeled as “fools” by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on “fool errands,” sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a “Poisson d’avril” or “April fish” because a young naïve fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.
This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool’s Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.
Scotland devotes April Fool’s Day to spoofs involving the 
buttocks called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April ‘Gowk’, another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the “Kick Me” sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance.
England plays jokes only in the morning. The fool is a “gob” or “gobby” and the victim of a joke is a “noodle”. It’s considered back luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.
The Festival of Hilaria holiday celebrated by Romans is for the rescurrection of the god Attis on March 25th known as “Roman Laughing Day.”
In Portugal, April Fool’s Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends.
On March 31st the people of India celebrate the Huli Festival where the joke is to smear one another with colors celebrating the arrival of Spring.
No matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1st, don’t be surprised if April Fools fall playfully upon you. These borrowed factoids link source is no longer available. 🙁
Now onto my Thursday Two Questions.
1. Do you plan on playing any pranks on someone on April 1st? Normally, I do not intentionally set out to play tricks on anyone anymore. When I was younger, I would tape a “kick me” note on some one’s back. I don’t have near the interest as I did years ago. I guess that’s part of getting too busy as an adult to think of idle fun. Where has my sense of humor gone?
2. What’s the best trick played on you? I don’t recall any extraordinary tricks played on me, but I recall one time, someone in my family gave another person a can of peanuts and when they opened the peanuts out sprang this long snake-like thing. Do you remember this gag? It’s the surprise element that really gets you and then the look on the recipients face. Mind you, this isn’t something you want to do to an elderly person or someone with a heart condition. Otherwise, it can be quite funny.
Whatever you do, play it smart and be smart so you won’t get pranked too badly.
Be sure to link up to play with Self Sagacity & the gang!
Now, it’s time to play and link up for some fun with….
1. Are you a bath or shower person? I’m a shower person, but not a Janet Lee kind of shower person. Do you remember that scene? I heard shower sells dropped after that hit the theaters. But, what I truly love is soaking in a deep bathtub for hours. That’s something I use to a lot of when I was a kid because my folks didn’t have a shower. They had this old porcelain ball and claw tub, which I loved. I could recline back in that tub and soak away all the grime from my play. Aaah, just thinking about it sends a warmth all over my body. Nowadays, it’s just a quick shower. No relaxing or soaking away my cares of the day, but at least I’m clean.
2. Do you bathe/shower in the morning or at night? I’m an evening shower person. After a busy day of doing my chores or running errands or whatever, then there is something totally feel good about slipping into a steamy shower. It sets the mood for a more relaxing evening, too.
3. Do you have a hot tub or swimming pool? I don’t have either but in my dream house, I can see having a heated swimming pool and maybe a hot tub, too. I love the thought of being able to take evening swims, but not in an unheated pool that’s not much fun. It’s actually chilly even in the middle of summer for night swims. Several years ago we went to the beach and I wouldn’t move from the hot tub. That was like a little piece of heaven for me. Finally, everyone begged me to get into the pool, which I did not enjoy after being in the hot tub. lol
