April Fools Day is the one day a year when it’s encouraed to tell a big fat whopping lies and fool as many people as possible.
Originally New Years Day was celebrated on April 1st and not January 1st as it is now. The reasons are lost to antiquity but there are several popular theories. Some say it had to do with the Vernal Equinox and the festival of Eostre. Others say it was moved to conflict with the holy days. However in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII modified the calendar, and moved new years from April to January. Those who continued to follow the old date were considered ‘April fools’. Eventually it became a day to play hoaxes on intellectually challenged individuals sending them impossible to complete chores, looking for things like snipes or smoke weasels. Most hoaxes today start in the mass media. Sometimes the mass media starts the joke other times they are used the vehicle to spread the message to unsuspecting listeners and readers.
Related posts:
Comments on this entry are closed.