Guest Author - Linda J. Paul

April Fool’s Day is probably the most enigmatic holiday still celebrated today. No one really knows it’s origins, or the where, when or why the celebration began. The first references to “All Fool’s Day” appeared during the late Middle ages in Europe. What we do know is that this day is devoted to the fine art of foolery. One of the most common theories is that this holiday may be a remnant of the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia.

The Saturnalia, was a Roman mid-winter festival celebrated around the Winter Solstice. The celebrations included dancing, drinking and much merrymaking. Gifts were exchanged, slaves changed places with their masters, and a mock king (Lord of Misrule) reigned for the week long festivities. This festival was the predecessor of January 1, New Year’s Day. Many of the Winter Solstice traditions and rituals have their roots in the Saturnalia celebrations

In fact, during the Middle Ages, a celebration evolved out of the earlier Saturnalia festival. The celebration was called “The Feast of Fools.” On this day, which was observed mainly in France, celebrants elected a mock pope and made serious fun of church rituals. The Fool was present during the festivities, dispensing laughter and treats to the crowd. Even though the church tried to do away with what they considered to be a blasphemous celebration, The Feast of Fools lingered on until the sixteenth century. When it was finally abolished, the celebration still continued on in the form of the Mardi Gras and Carnival.

Fools were very popular during medieval times, practicing their craft and skills in town squares and royal courts. The Fool is the most important figure in a Tarot deck and his distinctive costume is still much the same as it was during medieval times, a multicolored robe, horned hat, and scepter.

An old English tale tells the story of a town called Gotham. This town is known as the town of fools and is located in Nottinghamshire. According to the legend, it was a tradition in the 13th century to name any road that the King place his foot upon as public property. The citizens of Gotham refused King John entry to their town because they wished to keep their main road private. King John was enraged and sent his soldiers to into Gotham. But when the soldiers arrived, they found a town filled with lunatics. The people were drowning fish and trying to keep birds in cages without roofs. Even though the madness was all an act, the King declared that the town was to foolish to punish. Supposedly, April Fool’s Day commemorates the trickery of the towns people.

The most popular and widespread theory about the origins of April Fool’s Day involve calendar changes in the late sixteenth century. During 1582, France was the first country to switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar established by the Council of Trent during 1563. Consequently, the beginning of the year was moved from the end of March to the first of January. Some people did not wish to give up the old calendar and continued to celebrate the New Year between March 25th, which was known as Lady Day, and April 1st. In retaliation, those who had adopted the new calendar played jokes on the supporters of the old calendar. Paper fish called April Fish were stuck to their backs. This may have well been the beginnings of April Fool’s Day. The major flaw with this particular theory is that the observance of April Fool’s Day spread from France to Germany, Scotland and England long before those countries adopted the new calendar.

Whatever the origins, April Fool’s Day still remains a day of pranks and mischief, with bigger and more complex jokes being executed each new year.

April Fools!!