April Fool’s Day – April 1

For very many centuries, the first of April has been a day of laughing and jokes. This day is kept in many countries, not only in Britain and the USA. This is a day to play jokes and make people laugh. Nobody knows when the beginning of this custom was. Some people connect it with the end of winter and the return of spring, which made people merry and ready to play jokes.

In Scotland, young people were sent for hen’s teeth or bird’s milk, and everybody laughed when they could not find such things. In the USA and Britain, someone could place a sign on a person’s back with the words “push me!” Children often tell a grown-up that his sock is torn, or he has something black on his face, and then shout “April Fool!” There is also the old purse trick. A purse is left lying in the street, but when someone wants to take it, it is quickly pulled back by a string which the hidden joker holds in his hand. Or the purse may be filled with stones. Sometimes invitations are sent to people asking them to come and visit somebody, but when they come they see that nobody expected them. Some people like to telephone the Zoo on that day and ask for Mr. Fish, Miss Fox, or Mrs. Cat. All these jokes are very old, but still they make people laugh.

In some places, tricks are played only in the morning of April 1. Then, if anyone tries to fool someone later that day, or on the next, he is met with these words: