The first of April, some do say,
Is set apart for All Fools’ Day.
But why the people call it so,
Nor I, nor they themselves do know.
But on this day are people sent
On purpose for pure merriment.”
~Poor Robin’s Almanac (1790)~
This verse is recorded in Poor Robin’s Almanack in 1760 and echoes the general feeling about April Fools’ Day before and since.
A popular day, but really only half-day, for traditionally, jokes have to be played before noon, after which the victim was entitled to turn the tables by shouting,
April Fool’s gone past,
And you’re the biggest fool at last
Some well known fools’ errands years ago, included sending an unsuspecting child to a shop for some elbow grease and also to farm houses to ask for pigeon’s milk, both items not true items.
The media also join in on the fun, and on this day, it is fun to watch out for unusual articles that cannot possibly be true. I shall always remember the news article about spaghetti growing on trees!
All Fools’ Day as it was called years ago was, is observed in many countries around the world.
England
In the Lake District, an April Fool is a – ‘April noddy’. April noddy’s past and gone,
You’re the fool an’ I’m none.
In Cornwall, an April Fool is a ‘guckaw’ or ‘gowk’, another word for cuckoo (a bird). If a child succeeded in ‘taking in’ another, he used to shout after him ~ “Fool, fool, the guckaw.” On the other hand if the person resisited the trick, he would say ~ “The gowk and the titlene sit on a tree, You’re a gowk as weel as me.” Titlene refers to a hedge sparrow (a bird).
In Cheshire, an April Fool is a ‘April gawby’ or ‘gobby or gob’.
In Christow in Devon, pranks had to be played in the afternoon. The day there was known as Tail-pipe Day’, because it was a custom to pin an inscription Please kick me’ to the coat-tails of an unsupecting victim.
Scotland
The day is known Gowkie Day’ or Hunt the Gowk’.
In the Orkney Isles, the pranks are transferred to 2nd April, which is known as Tailing Day’.
France
On April Fool is called a ‘fish’ – ‘poisson d’Avril’ – and it is the custom to send friends a dainty present made up in the form of a small fish.
A FOOL’S DICTIONARY
April Fool: A person successfully tricked on 1st April.
Fool’s Cap: A cap with bells attached worn by jesters.
Fool’s Errand: A fruitless venture.
Fool’s Gold: Iron pyrites, often mistaken for gold.
Fool’s Paradise: Happiness founded on a illusion.
Fool’s Parsley: A species of hemlock resembling parsley. Trompe-l’oeil: A still-life painting, designed to give a illusion of reality. Literally ‘deceives the eye’.
Foolery: Foolish behaviour/a foolish act.
Foolhardy: Rashly or foolishly bold, reckless.
APRIL FOOL SMILE :-))
Q: Why are people so tired on April 1st?
A: Because they just finished a 31-day March 🙂
APRIL FOOL WEATHER WATCH
If it thunders on All Fool’s Day,
expect good crops of corn and hay
April Fools’ Day