April 1st cannot be called an international holiday, but “April Fool’s Day” or “April Fool’s Day” is celebrated everywhere, with every possible way of teasing relatives, friends, and colleagues.
We won’t find out which joke is the most popular on this day, but we’ll tell you how the holiday came about.
History of the holiday
According to one version, the origin is connected with the weather. The middle of spring does not yet promise stable warmth, and therefore the weather was not trusted.
In ancient Rome there was a Fool's Day, which was celebrated at the end of winter. And with the change of calendars, the date shifted to April 1.
It is also believed that the holiday arose in connection with the celebration of the New Year in Western Europe at the end of March, until the celebrations were moved to January 1.
All those who, after the decision of Charles IX, continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1, were called "April fools".
As Europeans noted
The holiday did not exist in Germany and was introduced to the Germans relatively recently with the participation of France.
In Ireland, the origin of the holiday goes back to the times of the ancient Celts, when it was customary to joke to please the god of laughter.
In Portugal, the holiday is usually celebrated on the Sunday and Monday before the start of Lent.
Holiday among the Slavs
Since ancient times, people in Rus' believed that on this day the brownie, who was responsible for the well-being of the family, woke up.
It was believed that after waking up, the tired and gloomy brownie needed to be appeased and cheered up.
And the first mass drawing took place in 1703 in Moscow. Then everyone was invited to watch an unprecedented theatrical performance.
When the audience gathered and the curtain opened, a sign appeared that is still repeated today: “On April 1st, don’t trust anyone.”
Earlier we told you which Russian word foreigners don’t understand .
