Days like today are strange traditions that people keep seeming to celebrate. It seems every year, we are constantly aware of clickbait, fake news, and jokes in tune with April 1st. But why? Why do we keep up this tradition? What is the history of April Fools' Day?
There are supposed origins dating back to the 1500s, according to Hoaxes.org. Written documentation began in the eighteenth century in Europe, but supposedly it was already a common idea in culture.
Also known as All Fool's Day, April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563, according to History.com. A prank from this era involved placing a paper fish on one's back called “poisson d’avril”, or April fish, to symbolize an easily caught fish. Caught fish=gullible person= PRANK.
Some believe it dates back to Rome during Hilaria, a celebration where people wore masks and tricked others. According to history.com, "There’s also speculation that April Fools’ Day was tied to the vernal equinox, or first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather."
Maybe Mother Nature is doing that now, with this still chilly weather at the beginning of April. Seriously, can we get some warmth?!
More sources link it to 18th century Britain, although in Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.
Of course modern day society has had its own fun as well. Sports Illustrated ran a made-up article about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour back in 1985. Taco Bell claimed it bought the Liberty Bell in 1996 and renamed it the Taco Liberty Bell.
The Chicago Bears recently pulled their own prank by declaring they were making new jerseys. You can read that post by clicking the link!
https://sjsteve.wixsite.com/website/blog/chicago-bears-keeping-it-100-with-april-fools
The origin of April Fools' remains a mystery. It overall seems like an outdated celebration, as the Internet makes it less eventful with fake posts on social media and fake news stories. Maybe it keeps people occupied until Easter later in the month, or help sooth those not over Spring Break yet, but it seems to always trick a few gullible people every year!
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