April Foolishness has Roots in Ancient Times
While there is speculation that April Fool’s Day began in the late 1500’s when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, the one we use today, it is also thought this day had other origins. like the celebration of Hilaria or that it had ties to the Vernal Equinox.
In the Julian Calendar, as in the Hindu calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox which is around April 1. Unfortunately, back then people did not have the internet, smart phones, tablets (unless you count stone ones) to get there news, so some people, who were slow to get the news that the new year would begin on January 1st, instead of April 1st and continued to celebrate were made fun of and called “April Fools.” Pranks would be played upon them, such as putting a paper fish on their back, somewhat like, I reckon, a “kick me” note of today’s bullies.
Hilaria, which means joyful in Latin, was a celebration at the end of March by followers of the cult of Cybele. People would dress up in disguises and mock their neighbors. Hilaria was a day for games, masquerades and pranking of the citizenry.
The Vernal Equinox is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather. There is some speculation that April Fool’s Day is inspired by this. I know how true this might be being here in the Pacific Northwest.
Today, people go to some pretty good lengths to pull pranks. I remember one replacing salt for sugar on the dinner table. That went over like a lead balloon, ruining a perfectly good meal…
Here are some of histories greatest pranks:
1957 - The BBC runs a story on about a huge Swiss crop of Spaghetti noodles, even showing pictures of people “harvesting” the pasta.
1992 - National Public Radio ran a story, using an actor, about how former President Richard Nixon had decided to run for president again.
1996 - Taco Bellduped people when it announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell with the intention to rename it the “Taco Liberty Bell.”
1998 - Burger King advertised a “Left-Handed Whopper,” and lots of clueless customers came into the restaurants to request the fake sandwich.
No matter what the origin, no matter how you celebrate, have a good one. Thank a nurse! Wear your mask. Get a vaccine when available. And, as always, play more games!