APRIL FOOL'S DAY!

THE HISTORY

April fool's day history is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it first started around 1582 in France with the calendar reform under the reign of of Charles IX. The New Year's Day was shifted from March 25th - April (new year's week) to january 1st simply because the Gregorian calendar was introduced.

Thanks to technology now because in those days communication travelled slowly and some people were only informed of the change several years after! even after this some very rebellious ones still refused to acknowledge the change and went on celeberating on the last day of the former celeberation, April 1st.

These "rebellious" people were labelled "fools" by the general populace. They were sent on "fool errand," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical joke played upon them. The butts of the pranks became known to everyone as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. Additionally, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.

 

As time went on, this harrasement evolved and a custom of prank playing continued every first of april. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland 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 it's own way.

For example, in Scotland, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs which usually involves the buttocks and as such it's called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are called April 'Gowk' (cuckoo bird).

In England , jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called 'gobs' or 'gobby' and the victim of the joke is called a 'noodle'. It was considered jinxed to any form of joke after noon.

In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria celebrating the resurrection of the god Attis, is on the 25th of March and is also refered to as "Roman Laughing Day."

In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour on their friends.

The Huli Festival is celebrated on march 31st in India. People smear colours on one another celebrating the spring arrival and play practical jokes on one another.

Here in Nigeria, pracical jokes are made, pranks of all sorts are carried out! I personally experienced a couple. First I heard 'the koko master' had been kidnapped! that was when I knew I had a mad crush on Dbanj because immediately, my countenance changed. Later realised it was a prank and I had been one of April's fool. Heard others like the moving of the elction to december, the death of M.I, the sex tape of D.banj and genevieve, the pictures of GED with mistress. Also heard jokes like "Wife on her way back from the market entered her matrimonial bed and caught her hubby on her house girl,d husband quickly shouted april foooooooool,and the wife smiled and said God safe una.mumu wife."

Decided to play a fast one on a friend too, a day before i had a minor accident that could have been a real big one but thanks God it wasn't a 'biggie'. I was frying fish in the kitchen when suddenly the hot oil popped on my right eye! It was quite painful i must say. Told my friend that night, he condoled with me. The next day being April Fool's Day i called him and said 'the eye' had refused to open! Omo see fear, it was amusing indeed. Later fessed up and said "APRIL FOOL!"

It was really a very memorable one in Naija, went to bed wondering who April's biggest fool really was?

the history of April fool's day

 

Apriiiiiiiiiil foooooool!

 

 

 

April 1st....happy April fool's day!

 

 

April fool!

 

 

 

April fool!