Janet tells us about April Fool's Day

APRIL FOOLS’ DAY By Janet

April Fools’ day

April’s fool day is celebrated in different countries around the world the 1st day of April. It’s called All fools day, too. It isn’t a national holiday but is celebrated like a day when everybody prepares jokes.

In some countries, like Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Cyprus, and South Africa, the jokes are only until noon. If someone plays a trick in the afternoon is called an “April fool”. In other countries, like France, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, Australia, and the U.S., the jokes are all the day.

Origins

Before April Fools’ Day existed, there were other similar celebrations like: Roman festival of Hilaria and Medieval Festival of Fools.

A French poet already talked about a poisson d’avril in 1508.

In the Middle Ages in France, New Year was celebrated during the last week of March ending on 1^st April. The people who celebrated New Year on January, laughed at those who celebrated on 1^st April. Many people think that this is the origin of April Fools’ Day in France.

Other people say that the origin of April Fools’ Day is because on the 21^st of March is the Vernal equinox, so it’s a time when there are a lot of weather changes and people is fool.

In other countries celebrate April Fools’ Day during other days. For example: Iranian celebrate Sizdah Bedar (1st or 2nd April), Spanish people celebrate the “Day of Holy Innocents” (28^th December).

Practise

During April Fools’ Day, children try to stick a fish made of paper at the back of adult people. In some countries children lock out their parents or teachers. In Korea, Fools’ Day is celebrated at the first snow day of the year.

Often also public services and the media, like TV, radio, journals, participate in April Fools ’ Day.

Serious and important activities, like the signing of conventions and laws, are often avoided or back-dated (dated before or after April 1).