March 31, 2005 Columns » IQ

Just how did this April Fool's Day thing start? Back in 16th-century France, New Year's was an eight-day fest that began on March 25 and culminated on April 1.

The joke's on you 

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Just how did this April Fool's Day thing start? Back in 16th-century France, New Year's was an eight-day fest that began on March 25 and culminated on April 1. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1582, New Year's was moved to Jan. 1, and many of the populace either didn't get the news (there was no daily Rush Limbaugh to set them straight) or refused to go along. These New Year's dissidents were derided as April fools, sent on "fools errands" and otherwise made the butt of practical jokes. But hey, April Fool's Day has its point. What better way to welcome spring after a long, drab winter than by playfully bringing "reality" into question?

click to enlarge Mike Bannister - - Downtown - - Pizza delivery guy - - Why does April Fool's Day continue in modern - times? It's - something entertaining at the time of year when - there's - not much else to do. Plus, it's short term. It doesn't - require big deal planning like Thanksgiving or - Christmas. - - If you could pull an April Fool's Day prank on - George W. - Bush, what would it be? Have it somehow - declared that - the election recount in Florida was resolved in favor of - Gore. - - If you could play a prank on anyone, what would it - be? - Convince the world that the Second Coming of Christ - had come, and no one went. And hopefully make - everyone rethink it all because of it.
  • Mike Bannister

    Downtown

    Pizza delivery guy

    Why does April Fool's Day continue in modern times? It's something entertaining at the time of year when there's not much else to do. Plus, it's short term. It doesn't require big deal planning like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

    If you could pull an April Fool's Day prank on George W. Bush, what would it be? Have it somehow declared that the election recount in Florida was resolved in favor of Gore.

    If you could play a prank on anyone, what would it be? Convince the world that the Second Coming of Christ had come, and no one went. And hopefully make everyone rethink it all because of it.

click to enlarge Susan Hurst - - Springs Ranch - - Hostess - - What's the best April Fool's gag ever played on - you? I got - a memo at work saying that our hours had been - changed - and we had to stay at work until 8:00 every night. - - What's the best April Fool's gag you've pulled on - someone? I told my husband I was expecting. - - If you could play an April Fool's joke on anyone at - all, - what would you do? I'd somehow convince Bush - that - we'd all mutiny if he didn't bring the price of gas down - and bring our men home from Iraq.
  • Susan Hurst

    Springs Ranch

    Hostess

    What's the best April Fool's gag ever played on you? I got a memo at work saying that our hours had been changed and we had to stay at work until 8:00 every night.

    What's the best April Fool's gag you've pulled on someone? I told my husband I was expecting.

    If you could play an April Fool's joke on anyone at all, what would you do? I'd somehow convince Bush that we'd all mutiny if he didn't bring the price of gas down and bring our men home from Iraq.

click to enlarge Matt Hollensbe - - Manitou Springs - - Professional musician - - Why do we still observe April Fool's Day? We - need - chances to be lighthearted and undermine - assumptions. - We take ourselves way too seriously. - - What April Fool's gag would you love to play on - Bush? - Doctor one of his speeches so that every use of - "democracy" and "freedom" is replaced by the phrase, - "word of God." Or maybe at some official banquet, - seat - George and Laura between Michael Moore and - Howard - Zinn. Or maybe rig Bush's office so that during one of - his - daily conversations with God the voice of Jim - Hightower - answers back in a chastising fashion.
  • Matt Hollensbe

    Manitou Springs

    Professional musician

    Why do we still observe April Fool's Day? We need chances to be lighthearted and undermine assumptions. We take ourselves way too seriously.

    What April Fool's gag would you love to play on Bush? Doctor one of his speeches so that every use of "democracy" and "freedom" is replaced by the phrase, "word of God." Or maybe at some official banquet, seat George and Laura between Michael Moore and Howard Zinn. Or maybe rig Bush's office so that during one of his daily conversations with God the voice of Jim Hightower answers back in a chastising fashion.

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