...One likely theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian Calendar which it replaced.[2] In many pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signalled the start of the spring planting season. An April Fool was someone who did this prematurely.[citation needed] In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the times of Noah. An English newspaper article published on April 13th, 1789 said that the day had its origins when he sent the raven off too early, before the waters had receded. He did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April.[3] A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd.[4]
And, for your amusement:
The Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of All Time
Or, if you're feeling mischievous:
http://www.aprilfools.com/
When I was 13 or so my father owned a Volkswagen Beetle. My stepmother didn't drive, so he drove her to work every day. On April 1st he preceded her down to the car, opened the hood, and when she arrived announced that the engine had been stolen during the night. She fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. She was extremely distraught that she wouldn't be able to get to work until he showed her where the engine really was.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this one? Don't know if it's date-appropriate or not.
ReplyDelete...I kinda hope not...
Bacon Lube
http://failblog.org/2009/04/01/product-fail/
Probably tastes better than that Kentucky jelly.
ReplyDelete(old joke)
How about this?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT2FIL7Uv4M
More bacon! April, april, din dumma sill... (that's a herring, in case you were wondering.)
ReplyDelete