APRIL
FOOL'S DAY
'The
first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days
of the year'
Mark
Twain
•
When do we celebrate 'April Fool's Day' in Spain?
• What is the Spanish translation for this festival?
• Do you play jokes on your friends? If so, what kind of jokes
do you usually play?
• ……………………
A
bit of History
The
custom of this day is to play jokes or send friends on fools' errands.
Its timing seems to be related to spring, when nature frequently "fools"
mankind with changes in weather.
This custom was brought to America by the British,
however, many believe that April Fools' Day began in France. March 25th
used to be New Year's Day and April 1st was when the festivities culminated
and ended. Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian
world in 1562. The New Year fell on January first. Many forgot and some
did not believe the change in the date and continued to celebrate New
Year's Day on the old date. Others played tricks on them and dubbed
them "April fools" sending them on a "fool's errand"
or attempted to have them believe that something false was true.
In France, April 1st is called "Poisson
d'Avril." French children fool their friends by taping
a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool"
discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d’Avril!"
(April Fish!)
In
England, April Fools' tricks are played in the morning
and if a trick is played on you, you are called a "noddie".
In Scotland, you are called a "gowk" (cuckoo
bird which symbolizes or represents a simpleton) with a favorite prank
being a "Kick Me" sign.
In Portugal, they celebrate twice (the Sunday and Monday
before Lent) by throwing flour at friends.
In colonial America one might have been asked to get a copy of "The
History of Adam's Grandfather" or obtain some "sweet vinegar."
One
common trick on April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, is pointing down
to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied."
Practical
jokes are a common practice on April Fool's Day. Sometimes,
elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last
the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a British
short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed documentary
about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop
from the spaghetti trees.
April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is
expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other"
out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's
simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain
forever vigilant, for he may be the next April Fool!
(taken
from www.lovetolearnplace.com)
VOCABULARY
EXERCISE. Are
yo ready for a vocabulary matching exercise? Click MATCHING
to begin.
GAP
FILLING EXERCISE.
You are going to read a text about superstitions on April Fool's Day.
Can you fill in the blanks ? Click
GAP FILLING to begin.