In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed

on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today

with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night.

Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the

Christian world, and the new year fell on January first.

There were some people, however,

who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date,

so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first.

Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools."

They sent them on a "fool's errand" or tried to make them believe that

something false was true. In France today, April first is called

"Poisson d'Avril." French children fool their friends by taping a

paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool" discovers

this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d’Avril!"

(April Fish!)

Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike

on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day,

or All Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying,

"Your shoelace is untied."

Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say to pupils,

"Look! A flock of geese!" and point up.

School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled.

Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke

the prankster yells, "April Fool! "

The "fools' errands" we play on people are practical jokes.

Putting salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is

not a nice trick to play on a stranger.

College students set their clocks an hour behind,

so their roommates show up to the wrong class - or not at all.

Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day

before the victim realizes what day it is.

Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant

to harm anyone.

The most clever April Fool joke is the one where everyone laughs,

especially the person upon whom the joke is played.

"The first of April is the day we remember

what we are the other 364 days of the year. "

- American humorist Mark Twain

So make it fun,

have a Blast,

but careful be...

for he who laughs loudest,

often laughs Last!

-LadyGator

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