Watch Your Back

The history of April Fool's Day - or All Fool's Day - is uncertain and is the subject of no small measure of dispute.  Some attribute it to a chapter contained in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales where a vain cock is tricked by a sly fox with the date March 32 (April 1).  Another theory is that its origins can be traced 1582 in France with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar under Charles IX.   Heretofore, most Europeans celebrated the new year from March 25 - April 1 and the new calendar moved it to January 1.

News traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change after several years had passed.  Still others, who were more rebellious, refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration - April 1.

These people were labeled 'fools' by the elites of the time and were the object of ridicule.  They were sent on fool errands including invitations to nonexistent parties along with other practical jokes. The butts of these pranks became known as a poisson d'avril (translation: April fish) as it is young and naive fish that are easily caught. A common prank was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone's garments as a joke.

This harassment evolved over time and the custom of prank-playing persisted on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French.  Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on a decidedly international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own peculiar fashion.

In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced it had purchased the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell.  Hundreds of infuriated citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to voice their righteous indignation over this corporate outrage. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold as well. McCurry claimed:  It will now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial. 

Keep your wits about yourself today.

Learn more about the best April Fool Pranks here.