April fools day..How it is celebrated in different countries and how you feel...
By sunny5u
@sunny5u (2069)
India
March 31, 2011 10:19pm CST
Hi friends, i know about the stories of different countries how they celebrate april fools day.
April Fool's Day,is a holiday celebrated in many countries on April 1. The custom of playing practical jokes on friends was part of the celebrations in ancient Rome on March 25 (Hilaria) and in India on March 31 (Huli). The timing seems related to the vernal equinox and the coming of spring-a time when nature fools us with sudden changes between showers and sunshine.
The day is celebrated by the execution of hoaxes and practical jokes of varying sophistication with the goal of publicly embarrassing the gullible. Pranks are suppose to end by noon and those done afterwards are suppose to bring bad luck to the perpetrator. Some sources say that the special meaning of April 1 originates in the French change to the Gregorian calendar ordered by King Charles IX of France in 1582. Before that, New Year was celebrated from March 25 to April 1. With the change of the calendar system, New Year was "moved" to January 1. People who forgot or didn't accept the new date system were given invitations to nonexistent parties, funny gifts, etc.
In France, the victim of a joke is called an "April Fish" (poisson d'avril). In England, tricks can be played only in the morning. If a trick is played on you, you are a "noodle". In Scotland, you are called an "April gowk", which is another name for a cuckoo bird. In Portugal, April Fool's is celebrated on the Sunday and Monday before Lent. The traditional trick there is to throw flour at your friends. Humor and practical jokes are universal.
Some media organisations have either unwittingly or deliberately propagated many hoaxes. Even normally serious news media consider April Fools' Day hoaxes fair game, and spotting them has become an annual pastime.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@sunny5u (2069)
• India
1 Apr 11
Hi jennyze, but you know when kids try to make fool they say some silly lies which they don't the real meaning and will try to have fun, seeing these we'll have great fun on that day you know, but people trying seriously to make others fools at any cost , doesn't look that good....
@keshia2007r (2880)
• United States
2 Apr 11
In the states we pretty much celebrate the entire day with just joking around. But back when I was growing up in the 90s April's fool was celebrated a lot. Very often we would play a prank on somebody. As of the past few years, it seems as if this day is celebrated less and less. As for my family, its just another day for us. I guess we've just grown out of it, but its still fun to do. And to think I actually forgot it was April fools day.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
1 Apr 11
Hi sunny: Here in my country is celebrated as most of the countries, playing big jokes to your friends. I don't like this celebration at all because i know I should not believe in everything that I hear this day because you'll find too many pranks. It's a little bit annoyed but in some cases they are funny too I must admit. People enjoy making jokes in this special day.
ALVARO
@thebradmeister (243)
• Australia
1 Apr 11
In Australia we basically take on those exact traditions, though majority of us don't bother and continue living our 9-5 work days... haha.
But I did enjoy your highly informative post there, I was not that aware of the history of April Fools day till now.
On another humorous note, I joke about this every year, My father was born on April 1st, before 12... AND, he was married on April 1st... After 12...
The Joke: The wedding wasn't a joke... But my father was the joke...
...Had to be there. haha
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
1 Apr 11
ohhhhhhhhhh friend you put long long discussion today on April Fool and I put yesterday small discussion on April Fool.
Only idea about April Fool and how make me some family members April fool. So I am also asking this how celebrate your April fool day.
@angelsavie (61)
• Philippines
1 Apr 11
When I was still in college, I celebrated April fool's day with my boyfriend. Why? Because it's our anniversary. They said that we are just fooling each other. Well, we lasted for about four years so I guess it's not a joke after all.
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
1 Apr 11
Here in Canada, jokes are played until noon, then it's over. If a joke is played on someone, and the person receives the trick, the tricker says "April fool's!" But after Noontime, then it's no longer considered funny.
