April Fools: frivolity through the ages
Published 01 April, 2009, 16:05
‘Your whole back is white’. This joke, originating from the Russian classic ‘Twelve Chairs’, has become so common on April Fools’ Day that it has become a tradition.
An observance of this international holiday takes place in many western countries every April 1, traditionally known as April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day (AKA Poisson d'Avril – ‘April Fish’ in French) or even ‘Day of Laughter’.
It's a day when humor reigns and harmless pranks, practical jokes, and hoaxes are sanctioned. Customary practices range from simple tricks played on friends, family, and coworkers, to elaborate media hoaxes concocted for mass consumption.
In Russia, children at school often greet their peers by saying that the principal wants to see them. Nevertheless, the chicanery does tend to get more creative: flash mobs, practical jokes, harmless insinuations and strange news in the media. Anything goes for a bit of good humour!
Fifth of all Russians support diplomatic ties with Atlantis
Russia is just as susceptible to April Fools’ Day as much as anywhere else. Public opinion research agency VCIOM broke the news on Moscow’s diplomatic ties with the legendary Atlantis and asked people to comment.
The sunken island was allegedly discovered by marine scientists recently and the Kremlin had established official relations with its government. Being told this, 40% of Russians were perplexed and failed to comment, while 21%, were quick to admit this was news for them, but supported the government’s decision nonetheless. Objecting the diplomatic move were 28% of the people polled. Finally, 11% of Russians said they knew Atlantis had been discovered.
Russians were quick to suggest a number of solutions to a conflict over continental shelf, which they were told was brewing between Atlantis and Russia. Those ranged from calling in the UN Court of Justice to have their say on the dispute, to building a naval base and launching major war exercises to show off their military might in front of the Atlantaens.
A brief history of fooldom
The origins of April Fools' Day are obscure. The most commonly accepted theory holds that it dates back to 1582, the year France adopted the Gregorian Calendar, which shifted the observance of New Year's Day from the end of March (around the time of the vernal equinox) to the first of January.
According to popular lore some folks, out of ignorance, stubbornness, or both, continued to ring in the New Year on April 1, and were made the butt of jokes and pranks on account of their foolishness.
This became an annual tradition, according to this version of events, which ultimately spread throughout Europe.
The main weakness of the calendar-change theory is that it fails to account for a historical record replete with traditions linking this time of year to merriment and tomfoolery dating all the way back to antiquity.
The Romans, for example, celebrated a festival on March 25 called Hilaria, marking the occasion with masquerades and ‘general good cheer’.
Holi, the Hindu ‘festival of colors’ observed in early March with ‘general merrymaking’ and the ‘loosening of social norms’, is at least as old.
It seems reasonable to speculate that the calendrical changes of the 16th and 17th centuries served more as an excuse to codify the general spirit of frivolity already associated with the advent of spring than as a direct inspiration.
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