The history of April Fool's Day
Dale
Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear.
There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed
on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in
several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the
first day of spring.
The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of
this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year
was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration
culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles
IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved
to January 1.
However, communications being what they were in the days when news
traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several
years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new
calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These
backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They
were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands"
or were made the butt of other practical jokes.
This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing
on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England
and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the
American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus
developed into an international fun fest, so to speak, with different
nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense
of their friends and families.
In Scotland, for example, April Fool's Day is actually celebrated for
two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior
region of the body. It is called Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me"
sign can be traced to this observance.
Mexico's counterpart of April Fool's Day is actually observed on
December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter
of the innocent children by King Herod. It eventually evolved into a
lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.
Pranks performed on April Fool's Day range from the simple, (such as
saying, "Your shoe's untied!), to the elaborate. Setting a roommate's
alarm clock back an hour is a common gag. Whatever the prank, the
trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!"
Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fool's Day. Sometimes,
elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last
the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a
British short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed
documentary about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop
from the spaghetti trees.
April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to
buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy
restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little
holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for
he may be the next April Fool!
hyxie
[ 2006-03-22 16:30 ]
热爱生活的人，即使狂风暴雨，也能看到彩虹，他们相信“阳光总在风雨后”；抱怨生
活的人，即使阳光普照，也会紧琐双眉，他们觉得阳光刺疼了眼睛。其实，生活不在别
处，就在你的心里。美国作家亨利·大卫·梭罗的这篇《Love your Life》道出生活真
谛：能处处寻找快乐的人才是最富有的。
However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it
hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are
richest. The fault-finder will find faults in paradise. Love your life, poor
as it is.
You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours even in a
poor-house. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house
as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as
early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly
there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.
The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any.
Maybe they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving. Most think
that they are above being supported by the town; but it often happens that
they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means which should be
more disreputable.
Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself
much to get new things, whether clothes or friends, Turn the old, return to
them. Things do not change; we change. Sell your clothes and keep your
thoughts.
Best Regards
Sahara--Xie HanYing
SFI-MFG1
Success Force Industries LTD.
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