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April Fools' Day |
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April Fools' Dayor All Fools' DayFirst day of April, named for the custom of playing practical jokes on that date. Though it has been observed for centuries in several countries, including France and Britain, its origin is unknown. It resembles the Hilaria festival of ancient Rome (March 25) and the Holi festival of India (ending March 31). The custom of playing April Fools' jokes was brought to America by the British. April Fools' Day April 1 There are many names for this day—including All Fools' Day, April Noddy Day, Gowkie Day, Huntigowk Day, and St. All-Fools' Morn —just as there are many practical jokes to play on the unsuspecting. One theory about its origin points to Noah as the first "April Fool." It is said that on that day he mistakenly sent the dove out to find dry land after the flood. Another points to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, when New Year's Day was officially moved from March 25 to January 1. People who forgot about the change were often mocked by their friends, as they continued to make New Year visits just after the old March date. The simplest pranks usually involve children who, for example, tell each other that their shoelaces are undone and then cry "April Fool!" when the victims glance at their feet. Sometimes the media get into the act, broadcasting fictitious news items designed to amuse or alarm the public. British television, for example, once showed Italian farmers "harvesting" spaghetti from trees. The French call it Fooling the April Fish Day (the fool being the poisson d'avril ) and try to pin a paper fish on someone's back without getting caught. In Mexico children play April Fools'-type pranks on December 28, Holy Innocents' Day. SOURCES: AmerBkDays-2000, p. 247 BkDays-1864, vol. I, p. 460 BkFest-1937, p. 17 DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 92 EncyEaster-2002, p. 9 EncyRel-1987, v. 1, p. 213 FestSaintDays-1915, p. 58 FestWestEur-1958, p. 34 FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 191 FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 268 OxYear-1999, p. 142 Celebration day: Apr 1 Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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No references found | Also on April firsts past, Microsoft purchased the Holy See, Worcester dogs were required to wear diapers, Loof Lirpa lifted the water of Webster Lake to whitewash the lake bottom, and Anita Bevis of Phillipston announced her candidacy for the Board of Selectmen, which came as an enormous surprise to Mrs. Just before deadline, he called my assistant sports editor, Mike Francis, to report that he'd just signed a 7-foot-6 center from Sweden named Loof Lirpa (35 points, 25 rebounds per game). Norwegian all-rounder Loof Lirpa has been snapped up as a Twenty20 Cup specialist. |
Loof Lirpa |
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