The Bible says it’s better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly (Proverbs 17:12). Yet we are a little foolish at times. Maybe that’s why the Welsh Proverb says, “If every fool wore a crown, we should all be kings.” At no time is that more evident than on April Fool’s Day (April 1st). It seems to bring out the “folly” in everyone. In addition to people trying to outdo themselves with tricks and jokes, around that time people will believe just about anything.
The origin of April Fool’s Day is hazy at best. Lots of ancient festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia, the Indian Holi, the Festus Fatuorum (Feast of Fools), and a Celtic festival honoring Lud, the god of humor, involved games, tricks, and jokes. The most popular theory about April Fool’s Day links back to France and the Gregorian Calendar.
The New Year used to be an eight day celebration culminating on April 1st. The papacy adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1582 which moved New Year’s Day to January 1st. News traveled slowly in those days, so some continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1st. Still others refused to accept this new calendar and were considered “fools” by everyone else. They were made the brunt of jokes like having paper fish stuck to their backs without their knowledge called Poisson d’Avril (April Fish) and sent on “fool’s” errands.
Not to be outdone by France, these prank playing traditions spread to England, Scotland and America. In Scotland they call it “Taily Day” and it is devoted strictly to pranks for the posterior of the body. Thus we can trace the “kick-me” sign back to this origin. No foolin’! I’m not making this up.
In modern times we celebrate by using fake vomit, fake dog-poo, whoopee cushions, exploding pens, and since we love to carry on traditions…putting “kick-me” signs on unsuspecting bystanders. We are a foolish bunch, aren’t we?
April Fool’s Day is also the perfect time for hoaxes. It’s difficult to tell truth from fiction these days so here are some classic April Fool’s jokes played on the public. For more, check out the Museum of Hoaxes website.
In 1980 the BBC announced that Big Ben would become digital to keep up with the times. It received a huge protest from listeners.
In 1994 an alcoholic beverage company reported it had invented a new kind of candy…the chewy Vodka Bar. These delicacies were designed to compete with Snickers and Mars Bars. They came in three flavors: coconut, lemon, and salted cucumber. They were also working on the vodka instant tea bag.
In 1996, Taco Bell announced that it bought the Liberty Bell and it would be renamed the Taco Liberty Bell. Outraged citizens called Philadelphia in protest. Taco Bell admitted it was a joke a few hours later. Mike McCurry, White House press secretary, was asked about the incident and he said the Lincoln Memorial had been sold also, but to a different company. It would now be called the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.
In 1998 Burger King placed a full page ad in USA today introducing the “Left-Handed Whopper.” It would have the same ingredients as a regular Whopper but condiments would be rotated a bit for the benefit of the left handed eater. It was a hoax but many showed up at local Burger Kings for the new Whopper and others requested the “Right-Handed” version.
In 2000, a newspaper ran an article stating Florida researchers had come up with a Viagra type pill for sexually frustrated pets. It sounds believable to me. After all, people pay good money to take their dog to a psychiatrist.
Hey, we’ve all fallen for jokes now and then. Just look at our politicians. Like Will Rogers said, “The trouble with practical jokes is that very often they get elected.”
I guess the real lesson of April Fool’s Day is to practice not believing anything we hear or read and only half of what we see – that and not getting close enough to anyone who can put a “kick-me” sign on your back.
And with that I will say, “Happy April!”
BTW…your shoe is untied. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
