Laughter Day (Fool's Day)

Mark Twain once said, “April One is the day we remember who we are for the other 364 days of the year.”

Even in medieval Europe in March and April there were fairs and celebrations associated with the arrival of spring. The most fun of them was the festival of fools, where jesters and skomorokhs ruled, “stupid” bishops, kings and citizens were chosen from the common people, over whom they joked. This tradition is preserved in the April Fools’ Festival of Laughter.

In France, on April 1, you can meet people with fish on their backs. It can be made of paper, plastic, ceramics and other materials. Its main purpose is a joke.

“The fish is joked” as follows: a hook is attached to it, which clings to the clothes of the “victim”. Thus, the fish should imperceptibly for the “caught” hang out on the back, cheering others. People go to themselves and do not suspect that the efforts of their friends or relatives have become the “April fish”.

It all began in France in the XVI century. Then the new year was celebrated on April 1, but in 1562 Pope Gregory XIII introduced for the whole Christian world a new calendar - Gregorian, according to which the New Year fell on January 1. However, as usual, there were people who did not know about the innovation or simply did not want to change their habits, continuing to celebrate the New Year on April 1. Such people were mocked and called “April fishes” (since the Sun was in the constellation of Pisces at that moment) or “April fools”.

Fools' Day is a holiday for a holiday. They don’t give gifts or go to a restaurant. The main thing is to be vigilant, not to be fooled or, as the creators - the French say, "not to stay in the fish."