No, it is not a National holiday...in fact it seems it is not clear as to where this day actually originated. One story goes like this:
Ancient cultures followed a different calendar than we do today. Under the ancient Julian calendar, New Year's Day was around April 1st.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar to be followed, the Gregorian Calendar, and it was to replace the old Julian calendar. In fact, France adopted the new Gregorian calendar right away and shifted New Year's Day to January 1st.
Now, according to one popular explanation, some people continued to use the old Julian calendar in which they celebrated New Year's on or about April 1st. As a result, people began to make fun of the ones still holding on the old calendar. They began to tell false things on April 1st and had people running errands that day which were largely untrue.
2 problems with that story...1) how did April fool's pranks spread to so many different countries?, and 2) England did not formally adopt the Gregorian calendar until...1752. By that time, April Fool's Day had been well established in England.
Another explanation is the emperor Constantine was told by his court jesters that they could run the empire better than he could, so for one full day emperor Constantine allowed a jester named Kugel to be king of the empire. On that day "King Kugel" passed an edict that all people must act as court jesters for one day...on the day of "King Kugel's" rule...which happened to be on April 1st.
One other train of thought is April 1st is considered a "fool's day" simply because of spring fever. There were numerous ancient cultures that had springtime festivals, and for the most part they were a light-hearted and merrymaking type of occasions.
Keep in mind just surviving the winter in ancient times was a reason to celebrate by itself.
So, I guess it boils down to...your guess is as good as mine.
Here are some other "nuggets" to remember April 1st:
1. April Fool's Day is recorded in Poor Robin's Almanack dating 1760 A.D.
2. Today is officially "National Fun Day" and begins "National Humor Month"...oh, and we mustn't forget what this week is: " Laugh at Work Week."
3. Today is St. Stupid's Day in San Francisco...including an annual parade.
4. Today is also "Boomer Bonus Day", a day for everyone over 50. It is said "Boomers" don't like to celebrate birthdays when they reach the age of 50, so this is a "creative and non-threatening" celebration.
5. Other recognitions for this day include: National Sourdough Bread Day, National Hug your Newsman Day, and the ever popular "Sorry Charlie Day".
The month of April has much to contribute and bring to awareness including the following: Alcohol Awareness Month, Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, Become a Yardnerd Month, Celebrate Diversity Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Donate Life Month, National Kite Month, Holy Humor Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, National Knuckles Down Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, National Lawn and Garden Month, National Smile Month, and National Tackle your Clutter Month....just to name a few.
Anything exciting happen on this day, you might ask?...uhhh..
Well, in 1963 the soap opera, "General Hospital" made its debut on TV...and in 1981 the wedding of Luke and Laura drew the largest TV audience ever to watch a daytime soap.
Other than that...oh...I know...in 1990 it became illegal in Salem, Oregon to be within 2 feet of a nude dancer. Wait...I have one more...in 1997 the Russia Tass news agency reported an alligator named Gena had hatched from the egg of a quail aboard the Mir space station..and had bit a U.S. astronaut. It was Tass at its best for an April's Fool's Day story!....those Russians...what will they think of next!
My favorite April Fool's Day story? Ok...KFMB-AM radio in San Diego, California announced a semi-truck "tanker" had jackknifed and was unable to be moved or towed because it had to be drained first...of beer....it was carrying a full tanker of beer.
The radio station then asked for anyone near the area to assist in draining the tanker...and in a short time there were over 100 people at the scene "actually looking for the scene", to help drain the tanker.
Welcome to April 2012 everyone!
Ancient cultures followed a different calendar than we do today. Under the ancient Julian calendar, New Year's Day was around April 1st.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar to be followed, the Gregorian Calendar, and it was to replace the old Julian calendar. In fact, France adopted the new Gregorian calendar right away and shifted New Year's Day to January 1st.
Now, according to one popular explanation, some people continued to use the old Julian calendar in which they celebrated New Year's on or about April 1st. As a result, people began to make fun of the ones still holding on the old calendar. They began to tell false things on April 1st and had people running errands that day which were largely untrue.
2 problems with that story...1) how did April fool's pranks spread to so many different countries?, and 2) England did not formally adopt the Gregorian calendar until...1752. By that time, April Fool's Day had been well established in England.
Another explanation is the emperor Constantine was told by his court jesters that they could run the empire better than he could, so for one full day emperor Constantine allowed a jester named Kugel to be king of the empire. On that day "King Kugel" passed an edict that all people must act as court jesters for one day...on the day of "King Kugel's" rule...which happened to be on April 1st.
One other train of thought is April 1st is considered a "fool's day" simply because of spring fever. There were numerous ancient cultures that had springtime festivals, and for the most part they were a light-hearted and merrymaking type of occasions.
Keep in mind just surviving the winter in ancient times was a reason to celebrate by itself.
So, I guess it boils down to...your guess is as good as mine.
Here are some other "nuggets" to remember April 1st:
1. April Fool's Day is recorded in Poor Robin's Almanack dating 1760 A.D.
2. Today is officially "National Fun Day" and begins "National Humor Month"...oh, and we mustn't forget what this week is: " Laugh at Work Week."
3. Today is St. Stupid's Day in San Francisco...including an annual parade.
4. Today is also "Boomer Bonus Day", a day for everyone over 50. It is said "Boomers" don't like to celebrate birthdays when they reach the age of 50, so this is a "creative and non-threatening" celebration.
5. Other recognitions for this day include: National Sourdough Bread Day, National Hug your Newsman Day, and the ever popular "Sorry Charlie Day".
The month of April has much to contribute and bring to awareness including the following: Alcohol Awareness Month, Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, Become a Yardnerd Month, Celebrate Diversity Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Donate Life Month, National Kite Month, Holy Humor Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, National Knuckles Down Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, National Lawn and Garden Month, National Smile Month, and National Tackle your Clutter Month....just to name a few.
Anything exciting happen on this day, you might ask?...uhhh..
Well, in 1963 the soap opera, "General Hospital" made its debut on TV...and in 1981 the wedding of Luke and Laura drew the largest TV audience ever to watch a daytime soap.
Other than that...oh...I know...in 1990 it became illegal in Salem, Oregon to be within 2 feet of a nude dancer. Wait...I have one more...in 1997 the Russia Tass news agency reported an alligator named Gena had hatched from the egg of a quail aboard the Mir space station..and had bit a U.S. astronaut. It was Tass at its best for an April's Fool's Day story!....those Russians...what will they think of next!
My favorite April Fool's Day story? Ok...KFMB-AM radio in San Diego, California announced a semi-truck "tanker" had jackknifed and was unable to be moved or towed because it had to be drained first...of beer....it was carrying a full tanker of beer.
The radio station then asked for anyone near the area to assist in draining the tanker...and in a short time there were over 100 people at the scene "actually looking for the scene", to help drain the tanker.
Welcome to April 2012 everyone!
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