Re:Happy (old) New Year / April Fool's Day

SKOHAN@aol.com
Sun, 30 Mar 1997 11:30:36 -0500 (EST)


Does anyone know the origin of April Fool's Day?

For over a thousand years the new year was celibrated on April first
(generally around the time of the start of spring) . Then some church that
held sway in Europe at that time decided to move it three months sooner to
coincide with someones birthday (an incidentally the winter solstice). The
move also coopted several Pagan celibrations that were practiced at that time
in Europe.Those that did not follow the change decided to still celibrate the
holiday on the first of April. They elected a Fool's Pope to reidicule the
prevailing church leaders. The church then began to call those that protested
"April Fools".

If you think that this is an April Fool's joke than you are truely an April
Fool.

Sheldon