It has been suggested that Europe derived its April-fooling from the French. France was one of the first nations to make January 1 officially New Year's Day. This was in 1582, even before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.
Thus the New Year's gifts and visits of felicitation which had been the feature of the 1st of April became associated with the first day of January, and those who disliked or did not hear about the change were fair game for those wits who amused themselves by sending mock presents and paying calls of pretended ceremony on the 1st of April.
French and Dutch references from 1508 and 1539 respectively describe April Fools' Day jokes and the custom of making them on the first of April.
Some western fools: http://aprilfools.urgo.org/
Why don't you share your experience in past or present April fools?!
Mohaly
Showing posts with label April's Fool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label April's Fool. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2007
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