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April Fool's Day
April Fool's Day
k
Quicdy
Stu
FOOL’S
DAY
By
ALFI
LORPOS
on
From simple pranks such as pasting a “Kick Me” sign
1 is a day where
someone’s back to more elaborate hoaxes, April
ly, neighbours,
it’s acceptable to play a practical joke on your fami
ing for?
colleagues, friends and enemies. What are you wait
Fishy story Chimes of time
Although not all April Fool’s In 1980 the BBC announced
experts agree (yes, they exist), that Big Ben, London’s
some argue the day originated historic clock tower, was
in 16th century France, when going to be replaced
Pope Gregory XIII mandated with a digital face to
that the new year began
keep up with the
on January 1, instead
of the end of March. times. Enraged callers
Those who failed to flooded the station
follow the new with complaints.
calendar were
dubbed “April “I have great
fish”. Others claim faith in fools –
it originated from
ancient Spring self-confidence,
festivals that my friends
included call it.”
mischief-making. Edgar A l l en Poe
readersdigest.com.au 04 /11
>>Timeline
1508 Poet Eloy d’Amerval refers to poisson
d’Avril (April fish), the French term for
April fools.
1539 Flemish writer Eduard de Dene
publishes a comic poem about a nobleman
who sends his servants on “foolish”
errands on April 1.
1686 First British mention of “Fooles holy 1992 US National Public
day”, which is observed on April 1. Radio announces that disgraced
1698 One of the earliest of April Fool former president Richard Nixon
stunts: people were invited to go to the is to run again with the slogan,
Tower of London to see the “annual “I didn’t do anything wrong, and
ceremony of washing the lions”. I won’t do it again.”
1789 An English newspaper claims that
April Fool’s day had its origins when Noah advertises genetically modified “whistling
dispatched a raven from the Ark too early. carrots”. Tapered air holes in their sides
1919 Residents of horse-free Venice wake cause them to whistle when cooked.
on April 1 to find their famed Piazza San 2009 A British newspaper, the Guardian,
announces it will only publish stories
photos: get t y images
Fool’s Day as a Western tradition. had landed in the desert town of Jafr.