The first of April is International Day of Laughter, a holiday of fun and humor. On this day, it is customary to play pranks on friends and acquaintances, to make fun of oneself and others.
The history of this holiday goes back centuries. The tradition of celebrating it arose in Western Europe, namely in France, where this holiday is called “Fish Day”, Poisson d’Avril (synonym for our “April Fool’s Duck”).
Nowadays, April 1 is a holiday beloved by millions. A holiday of smiles, laughter, practical jokes, humor. Laughter is peace and health, prosperity and hope.
When talking about the April 1 holiday, one cannot fail to mention the world capitals of humor - Gabrovo (Bulgaria), Odessa (Ukraine), Aberdeen (Scotland).
“We laugh because we have fun.” What is laughter? Laughter, according to the explanatory dictionary of the Russian language S.I. Ozhegova and N.Yu. Shvedova - “these are short characteristic vocal sounds that express fun, joy, pleasure, as well as ridicule, gloating and other feelings.” It has been proven that “good” laughter has a beneficial effect on the human body.
Sayings and expressions about laughter
From the great to the ridiculous there is one step.
Roll with laughter.
Jokes aside.
If you hurry, you will make people laugh.
Laughter through tears.
I'm not laughing.
It's just a laugh.
Joking is a serious matter.
Laughter, and that's all.
Nothing funny.
Just for fun.
Do not make me laugh.
Laughter without rules.
It’s really not a sin to laugh at the fact that we sometimes find it funny.
You can't buy a cheerful disposition.
"If you, frowning,
Leave the house
If you're not happy
Sunny day -
Let him smile at you
Like your friend,
Completely unfamiliar with you
Oncoming guy.
And a smile, without a doubt,
Suddenly touches your eyes,
And good mood
He will never leave you again."
From "Song about good mood", text by V. Korostylev, music by A. Lepin
"Rise and shine,
Rise and shine.
Try it at least once in your life -
Don't let the smile leave your open eyes.
Let success be capricious
He chooses from those
Who can laugh at themselves first?
Sing while falling asleep
Sing in your sleep
Rise and shine.
Song from the movie “Awake and Sing”, text by V. Lugovoi, music by G. Gladkov.
Excerpt from the fairy tale “Not So”
No matter what a fool does,
He does everything wrong.
Doesn't start over
And he ends up at random.
He builds a house from the ceiling,
Carries water with a sieve,
The sun in the field catches the hat,
The shadow from the walls is erased with a rag,
The door takes you with you into the forest,
So that the thief does not get into it,
And onto the roof by a rope
Pulling a brown cow
To graze a little
Where the grass has grown.
Why is April 1st April Fool's Day? The tradition of organizing funny pranks, joking, laughing and having fun in every possible way on this day exists in almost every country in the world. This day, not officially marked in any calendar as a significant event, nevertheless, fully deserves the status of an international holiday.
There is no specific official name assigned to it (you can find out why March 8 is International Women's Day). In some countries (such as Russia) it is called “April Fool’s Day”, in others (for example, in England) it is called “Fool’s Day”, and in France it was originally called the day of “April fish”. Where and when exactly did this tradition originate?
The main milestones of the birth of the holiday
History of April 1: “April Fool’s Day” or “Fool’s Day”? There are quite a few versions as to why the custom of having fun took hold on April 1, and this is not surprising: after all, the tradition of joking and laughing cheerfully existed back in ancient Greece.
And in ancient times...
1. Ancient Greek healers argued that laughter can cleanse the soul and body, thanks to which, having gotten rid of negative emotions and anxiety, a laughing person experiences so-called catharsis (purification).
The ancient spring orgies, organized by the population of ancient cities in forest clearings and shady groves, could not have been more consistent with this goal. These cheerful celebrations were accompanied by dancing, singing and generous sacrifices to the ancient gods.
The emergence of anecdotes (short humorous stories) and epigrams (even shorter witty inscriptions) dates back to this time.
2. There is a hypothesis according to which the origins of April Fool's humors were laid in the ancient Roman custom of celebrating the day of the fool (however, there is some discrepancy in the time of celebration, because it was celebrated not in April, but at the very end of February).
The most likely version seems to be that in Ancient Rome there was a tradition of appeasing the God of Laughter by inventing witty pranks and jokes, and this should have been done precisely in April.
Hilarious hoaxes in Europe
1) Why is April 1st “April Fool's Day”? Most likely, this is due to the transition to a new (Gregorian) calendar. This happened at the end of the 16th century, on the initiative of Pope Gregory XIII. According to his instructions, the New Year celebration was moved from April 1 to January 1.
However, due to the fact that information spread very slowly in those years, some of the population continued to note New Year according to the old calendar.
Some subjects of the French crown did this (contrary to the decrees of the Pope and their monarch) out of adherence to old customs. People who ignored the instructions of those in power began to be called fools, and people made fun of them in every possible way and made good-natured jokes.
2) Neapolitans claim that the tradition of celebrating April 1 with jokes and laughter was introduced by their King Monterey, who lived in the 17th century. It was on this day that they were given orders to arrange fun party about the earthquake that just ended.
One of the local fishermen brought the monarch a very large mackerel, the taste of which Monterey liked so much that he ordered the same dish to be prepared on next year. However, a year later, the palace cook did not have any mackerel, and he risked cooking another fish, passing it off as mackerel.
The deception was discovered, but Monterey did not even think of being angry: this incident amused not only him, but also all the courtiers. Since then, funny hoaxes have become an indispensable component of palace festivities.
What does fish have to do with it?
We can find the first mention of this holiday in a poem by one of the French poets who lived in the 16th century. It describes the amusing custom of discreetly gluing a fish cut out of paper to the back of the unwary object of the prank.
We can only assume that the well-known phrase about the “white back” appeared precisely thanks to this medieval tradition.
How did the “celebration of smiles” become “April Fools’ Day”?
The first documentary evidence of the existence of this term can be found in the poems of the English poet John Aubrey, written by him in 1686. To this day, prank lovers living in countries where the population speaks English do this only before lunch. They spend the rest of the day uncovering the prank.
The very first prank, reflected in documentary sources, took place in London, at the very end of the 17th century. Young London rakes (with the most serious looks) invited everyone to witness a unique spectacle: lions bathing in the Tower.
April Fools' pranks in Russia
The Russians (as well as the Europeans) had a pagan spring holiday, inseparable from joy and fun, however, the tradition of organizing April Fools' hoaxes appeared after the inhabitants of St. Petersburg woke up in the morning to the ominous blows of the alarm bell, warning of a fire.
Alarmed St. Petersburg residents at first rushed to save their lives and simple belongings, but when they were informed that the alarm was just a joke, their joy and delight knew no bounds.
An equally amusing example of an April Fool's prank is the trick of a German troupe of comedians who called together a huge crowd of people, promising to show a completely unprecedented spectacle. Tsar Peter I himself came to watch the outlandish performance.
When the curtain was raised, the amazed spectators saw a white canvas with the inscription: “The month of April - don’t trust anyone!” Having recovered from his surprise, Peter laughed along with the rest of the fooled audience. This case is the first in Russian history mass drawing. This happened in Moscow, at the very beginning of the 18th century.
How do they “fool around” in different countries?
The prim English only joke until noon. Their most common prank is the offer to tie a shoelace or wind up a lagging watch. On this day in Great Britain it is customary to exchange funny souvenirs and postcards.
The Scots love this holiday so much that they celebrate it for two days. They call April 1st “cuckoo day”, and April 2nd – “tail day”. On this day, you should be very careful not to sit on a slipped pillow that makes sounds indecent in a civilized society.
The French and Italians make every effort to ensure that no one can attach a paper fish to their back. Those who fail to do this “remain in the fishes” (in other words, “in the fool”).
The French often play pranks on each other by adding sugar to a salt shaker or adding pepper to a sweet dessert.
Finns love to play pranks on their children. They often send them to their neighbors for non-existent items (such as glass scissors).
Americans have always had quite a sense of humor difficult relationships. Therefore, their April Fools' jokes are very banal and mostly boil down to untied shoelaces and soiled clothes.
Their tradition of involving television in pranks is very funny, because before making a joke, the announcer or host of the program is obliged to warn the audience that a joke is about to be heard.
Cheerful Italians will not miss the opportunity to attach a paper fish to their neighbor’s back - a symbol of the holiday. They consider it great luck when it rains on this day: you can quietly sprinkle bright circles of confetti directly into the umbrella, and then the person who opens it will certainly laugh.
A traditional Italian prank involves turning over all the hands on the house clock.
Bulgarians are a people with a well-developed sense of humor. Residents of the town of Gabrovo are particularly self-irony, telling very funny jokes about your own stinginess.
The Bulgarian media skillfully present plausible-sounding “news”.
On April Fool's Day or international April Fool's Day (April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day), they traditionally play pranks on family, friends and acquaintances, or make fun of them. In 2018, April 1st fell on a Sunday. Korrespondent.net about traditions and the funniest pranks on April Fool's Day.
How did the holiday of April 1 come about?
It is unknown where the holiday came from. In some sources you can find information that on the first day of April in Ancient Rome they celebrated the day spring equinox, in other regions - Easter. Since both holidays were symbols of the new natural year, they were celebrated cheerfully, they joked a lot and even played pranks.
At the end of February, the Day of Fools was celebrated in Ancient Rome, and in Ancient India, on March 31, the holiday of jokes, Holi. Irish sagas mention the custom of deceiving people on the first day of April.
According to another version, the history of the holiday goes back to the 16th century, when Europe switched to chronology from Julian to Gregorian.
Celebrations at the “Most Drunken” Cathedral of Dead Souls in Rus' (photo: maponz.info)
The New Year began to be celebrated on January 1, while in the Middle Ages - at the end of March, namely the New Year's week lasted from March 25 to April 1. Therefore, when the conservative or ignorant population celebrated the New Year on April 1, they were joked about and called “April Fools.”
The holiday gained wide popularity in the 18th century. It was celebrated in the American colonies by the British, French and Scots.
Pranks in France were largely related to fish (photo: foromanualidades.facilisimo.com)
Subsequently, April Fools' pranks were recorded and collected into a collection of the 100 best April Fools' jokes of all times. They touched many areas of people’s lives, some of which were even impossible not to believe.
For example, people willingly believed that the Leaning Tower of Pisa did fall, the number Pi was changed from 3.14 to 3.0, an alien flying ship landed in London, and they did not perceive flying penguins as “ducks.”
How April Fool's Day is celebrated around the world
In the UK, you can joke and prank people only before lunch. The English believe that afternoon pranks bring bad luck to the prankster.
In Scotland they joke for not one, but two days. The first, April 1, is called Cuckoo Day, since the deceived one becomes a “mouthful,” and the second is Tail Day. All jokes on April 2 are related to the lower half of the body. It is considered good luck if a person sits on a veiled “fart pillow”, which ultimately produces characteristic sounds. Enthusiasts post pictures everywhere with the slogan “Give me a kick.” Such offers can be found in every Scottish town.
But in Germany, April 1 is considered an extremely unlucky day, and people try not to start new things. Even those born on April 1 are considered unlucky. Nevertheless, the Germans deceive each other by giving impossible orders.
The Portuguese throw flour on the first day of April, and the French try to stick a paper fish to the backs of passers-by. In France, people who believe in April Fools' jokes are called "April fish." The analogy is not accidental; it is in April that it is easiest to catch fish that are actively searching for food and can be caught using any bait.
In India, the holiday is called Holi Festival and is celebrated, as in ancient times, on March 31. Indians not only joke a lot: they throw spices, smear themselves with paints, and light fires.
On April 1, our pagan ancestors celebrated the Day of the Awakening of the Brownie, who hibernated for the winter. They allegedly woke up the brownie with jokes and jokes, and even changed into ridiculous costumes.
Festival "Humorina" 2018 in Odessa (photo: natali7tur.info)
In Ukraine, on April 1, the Humorina festival is usually held in the capital of humor, Odessa. In 2018 it lasts 5 days and ends on Sunday, April Fool's Day.
The best April Fool's jokes
1698 In London, people were invited to see white lions bathing in the Tower.
1957 The BBC reported a record spaghetti harvest in Switzerland. The program said that it was possible to grow pasta only after the destruction of the pasta beetle. Viewers believed the story, which showed how spaghetti was removed from tree branches.
April 1 is April Fool's Day or April Fool's Day. Despite the fact that this holiday is not on calendars, it is actively celebrated in various countries peace. On this day, it is customary to make fun of others: friends, colleagues, acquaintances. Harmless pranks, jokes and laughter make everyone smile, help recharge with positive emotions and get into a spring mood.
History of the origin of the holiday
Why did people begin to celebrate April Fool's Day and compare it with the date April 1? What is the origin story of this holiday?
Reliable information about the reasons and situations that influenced the emergence of this holiday has not reached our days. There are several assumptions in this regard, let's consider some of them.
Version 1. Spring Solstice
There is an opinion that the custom was formed as a result of the celebration of the spring solstice or day. In many countries it was customary to celebrate these dates, and public festivities were often accompanied by fun, joy and fun. The end of winter and the beginning of spring was often greeted with jokes, practical jokes, and dressing up in fancy dress.
Version 2. Ancient civilizations
Some suggest that the founder of this tradition was Ancient Rome. In this state, the Day of Fools was celebrated in honor of the God of laughter. But the significant day was celebrated by the Romans in February.
According to other versions, the holiday originated in Ancient India, where the day of March 31 was highlighted and celebrated with jokes.
Version 3. Middle Ages
A more common version is that the holiday was created in the 16th century in Europe. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII approved the transition to the Gregorian calendar for calculating days. Thus, the New Year celebration was moved from April 1 to January 1. However, some people, according to established tradition, continued to celebrate the beginning of the New Year according to the old Julian calendar. Such residents began to be pranked and ridiculed, they were called “April Fools.” Gradually it became a custom to give “stupid” gifts on April 1st.
April 1 in Russia
The very first recorded prank in Rus', dedicated to April 1, was organized in Moscow in 1703, during the era of Peter I. For several days, heralds called city residents to an “unprecedented performance” - the German actor promised to easily get into the bottle. A lot of people gathered. When it was time to start the concert, the curtain opened. However, on the stage there was only a canvas containing the inscription: “First of April - don’t trust anyone!” In this form the performance ended.
Since the 18th century, in the works of famous Russian writers and poets there have been references to the celebration of April 1 - April Fool's Day.
The funniest April Fool's jokes in history
Over the years in different countries around the world people play pranks on each other on April 1st. History has recorded a number of mass jokes that were published in print or broadcast on radio and television.
Spaghetti in the trees
The leader in the industry of laughter is the BBC News joke from April 1, 1957. The TV channel informed the public that Swiss farmers managed to grow a large harvest of spaghetti. The proof was a video in which workers collect pasta directly from trees.
After the broadcast, numerous calls were received from viewers. People wanted to know how to grow a spaghetti tree like this on their property. In response, the TV channel advised placing a spaghetti branch in a can of tomato juice and hoping for the best.
Food machine
In 1877, Thomas Edison, who had developed the phonograph at that time, was considered a generally recognized genius of his time. On April 1, 1878, the Graphic newspaper took advantage of the scientist's popularity and announced that Thomas Edison had created a food machine that would save humanity from world hunger. It was reported that this device could transform soil into breakfast cereals and water into wine.
Without doubting the reliability and veracity of the information, various publications reprinted this article, praising the scientist’s new invention. Even the conservative Commercial Advertiser in Buffalo was generous with its praise.
The Graphic subsequently boldly republished the editorial from the respected Commercial Advertiser with the headline: “They Ate It!”
Mechanical Man
On April 1, 1906, Moscow newspapers published the news that scientists had created a mechanical man who could walk and talk. The article included photographs of the robot. Those wishing to see the miracle of technology were invited to visit the Alexander Garden near the Kremlin, where they promised to demonstrate the invention.
More than a thousand curious people gathered. While waiting for the performance to begin, people in the crowd told each other stories about how they had already seen a mechanical man. Someone recognized the robot in a neighbor standing nearby.
Celebrated on April 1st. There is no exact date of origin of this holiday; no one can say with certainty where this holiday came to us from. It cannot be associated with religious customs or traditions of any country in the world.
There are only assumptions that it is being united common roots with the spring holidays of ancient times, when the population of ancient cities and villages gathered in the forests and had fun celebrations with dancing, songs and sacrifices. were convinced that a person must laugh, because laughter cleanses. It was during this period that short humorous stories appeared, which we now call anecdotes.
The history of April 1 is full of ambiguities, although it is known for certain that about two thousand years ago in the eternal city - Rome - they celebrated a similar holiday, which was then called the Day of Fools. All over Rome on this day people joked and
In the Middle Ages, Asian and European rulers began to have jesters. The Russian court also had jesters, and not always from ordinary families. For example, during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, jesters received count and princely titles.
The history of April 1 in France begins at the end of the sixteenth century. King Charles the Ninth in 1564, by his decree, ordered to celebrate New Year's celebration 1st of January. But people loved the spring holiday so much that they continued to congratulate their loved ones on the new year on the first day of April.
Years passed, and this tradition began to resemble a practical joke. This is how a holiday of fun and deceit appeared in France. Since then, the French have been celebrating April 1 for more than 500 years, and they do it on a grand scale. For example, in 1986, the famous newspaper Parisien published an article that, according to the decision of the city authorities, the Eiffel Tower should be dismantled and transported to the suburbs of Paris, to the Marne River valley, where the construction of the French Disneyland is planned. The townspeople were outraged by this decision, and the telephone in the newspaper office was white-hot. This went on for exactly one day until a refutation article appeared on the pages of the newspaper.
The British are famous for their stiffness, but they are not without a sense of humor. The history of April 1 in this country begins in the nineteenth century. In 1860, many Londoners
received an official invitation to the bathing ceremony in the Tower. All the lucky holders of invitations came to the famous London prison at 11 o'clock, wanting to take part in the mysterious holiday. They couldn't believe they were just being played.
The Scots' jokes on April 1 are a bit rough. For example, they leave a piece of paper on their victim's back with the inscription: "Kick me!"
The history of April 1 in Russia begins with the reign of Peter the Great. At first, this day was celebrated only in noble houses, but later April Fool's Day became nationwide. Russians are not short of wit. Pranks for April 1 are prepared carefully and in advance. Students and, oddly enough, businessmen were especially successful in this. More than 80% of the Russian population plays pranks on friends, colleagues and relatives on this day.
