Continuing my education of the religions of the world… the Google Search for “what religious holiday is celebrated on April 1st?” turned up nothing except links for April Fool’s Day.
Maybe that is just a reminder to make humor and fun a part of your TROML program in life!
April Fools’ Day is a light-hearted comedic day of cheer, practical jokes and hoaxes.
April Fools’ Day has been observed for centuries although its origins remain unclear. It has been suggested that in ancient Roman and Hindu cultures, the day originally marked ‘New Year’s Day’. Although in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII issued the Gregorian calendar which moved New Year’s Day from April 1st to January 1st. It is believed that those who continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1st were referred to as fools, leading to the concept of April 1st representing All Fools’ Day. It has also been suggested that April Fools’ Day is related to the vernal equinox, the beginning of spring, when Mother Nature plays sudden weather tricks on people.
The custom of April Fools’ was brought from Britain to the US centuries ago. Both kids and adults in North America and many European countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland, Finland, Iceland, and North American countries have developed traditional customs to celebrate the day. These typically include fooling another person and yelling April fools.
Traditionally, pranksters shout April Fool as they reveal the joke. In the United Kingdom, jokes can only be played until midday. If someone plays a joke after midday, then the they are the April Fool. In Ireland, tradition was to deliver an important letter to a person, who would then deliver the letter to another person, and so on. Once finally opened, the letter would say send the fool further.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Chinese Proverb.
Stay on guard! You will surely be the victim of a prank during April Fools’ Day, so be extra-careful of pranksters looming around you.
One of the best ways to fool someone on April Fools’ Day is to call them first thing in the morning. This way, they are less likely to realize that it is April Fools’ Day.
Our top 3 phone call pranks:
1) Breaking news – create a fictional breaking news item about politics, celebrities, events in your city, etc.
2) Your late for work – tell your friend that the time is 11AM and they aren’t at work or school yet.
3) Escaped monkey – a monkey from the local zoo is wandering in the backyard. You just saw a news clip of the monkey on the local news
