On this day, everyone (or almost everyone) is joking. Most often – at the expense of others. The goal is to have happiness and laughter on this date. But hardly many of you know the history of this holiday. How, in other words, did April Fool’s Day come about?
What is interesting is that there is no definite answer to the question asked, only theories. We present to you five of the most interesting facts about this cheerful holiday – April Fool’s Day, which we celebrate on April 1.
The Bible
The origins of this internationally recognized day date back to biblical days when human history first began to be recorded. This theory notes that the Feast of Jesters is celebrated when Noah first released a dove to test whether the waters of the great flood had receded. That this was on the first of April is also confirmed in the Hebrew Bible, as well as in 71 surahs of the Koran.
Another theory says that Jesus was sent by Pontius Pilate to Herod and back on that very day. This is also often referred to as idle work, i.e. as a joke. Precisely because of this, it is believed that this day has since been accepted as Joke’s Day.
Rome
The jokes that go on April 1 probably date back to the time of ancient Rome. The Romans and Celts are believed to have had a festival of pranks during the vernal equinox, which is close around April Fools’ Day.
Also, history has preserved an ancient Roman myth that tells of the god Pluto and his abduction of Proserpina, goddess of wheat and harvest.
Proserpina’s mother could only hear her daughter’s voice and searched in vain for her in the vast spaces of the underworld. This too, as in the case of Jesus, was considered a futile work.
Transfer from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar
The Romans and Hindus celebrated the New Year immediately after the vernal equinox. During the Middle Ages, most of Europe celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25, as the beginning of the New Year celebration. The festivities lasted for a week, until April 1. In 1582, Pope Gregory XII ordered the observance of the Gregorian calendar, according to which the New Year is celebrated on January 1.
The people were reluctant to accept the new rules in everyday life, many refused to obey Pope Gregory’s calendar and continued to celebrate the New Year around April 1. Those who adopted the new calendar on this day made up jokes about the uninformed, ridiculing the outdated day of celebration.
British culture
One of the theories is related to an English king from the 13th century. Every time he passed through a city, he considered it for the public good. Once on April 1, planned to pass through part of the Nottinghamshire city. When the citizens heard the king’s plans, they decided not to allow him to enter the city. The king sent an army to punish the disobedient citizens. But when the army arrived it found the people engaged in foolish activities, such as drowning fish on dry land. When he heard what the inhabitants of this city were doing, the king declared the city too stupid to concern himself with.
The feast of the joke ends at 12 o’clock
Although it is one of the most popular international holidays, few people know that prank time is only allowed until 12 noon.
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