April Fools’ Day Origins a Mystery
The origins of April Fools’ Day are shrouded in mystery, experts say.
The most popular theory is that France changed its calendar in the 1500s
so that the New Year would begin in January to match the Roman calendar
instead of beginning at the start of spring, in late March or early April.
However, word of the change traveled slowly, and many people in rural
areas continued to celebrate the New Year in the spring. These country
dwellers became known as “April fools,” the story goes.
But Boese, who’s studied the holiday’s origin, said the “theory is completely
wrong, because the day that the French celebrated the beginning of the year, legally, was Easter day,
so it never really was associated with April 1st.”
“Traditionally it was only a legal start to the year – people in France did actually celebrate [the New
Year] on January 1st for as long as anybody could remember.”
Boese believes instead that April Fools’ Day simply grew out of age-old European spring festivals of
renewal, in which pranks and camouflaging one’s identity are common.
Today in France, April Fools’ Day is called le poisson d’Avril – “the April fish” – and a classic prank is to
stick a paper fish to an unsuspecting passerby’s back.
Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080328-april-fools/
1.Answer the following questions.
a) What is the origin of April Fools’ Day?
b) Why is this theory not so reliable?
c) What does Boese believe is true about April Fools’ Day?
d) What is April Fools’ called in France nowadays?
e) How do people celebrate this day in your country?
Photocopiable – Student’s copy
April Fools’ Day Origins a Mystery
The origins of April Fools’ Day are shrouded in mystery, experts say.
The most popular theory is that France changed its calendar in the 1500s
so that the New Year would begin in January to match the Roman calendar
instead of beginning at the start of spring, in late March or early April.
However, word of the change traveled slowly, and many people in rural
areas continued to celebrate the New Year in the spring. These country
dwellers became known as “April fools,” the story goes.
But Boese, who’s studied the holiday’s origin, said the “theory is completely
wrong, because the day that the French celebrated the beginning of the year, legally, was Easter day,
so it never really was associated with April 1st.”
“Traditionally it was only a legal start to the year – people in France did actually celebrate [the New
Year] on January 1st for as long as anybody could remember.”
Boese believes instead that April Fools’ Day simply grew out of age-old European spring festivals of
renewal, in which pranks and camouflaging one’s identity are common.
Today in France, April Fools’ Day is called le poisson d’Avril – “the April fish” – and a classic prank is to
stick a paper fish to an unsuspecting passerby’s back.
Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080328-april-fools/
1.Answer the following questions.
a) What is the origin of April Fools’ Day?
The most popular theory is that France changed its calendar in the 1500s so that the New Year would
begin in January to match the Roman calendar instead of beginning at the start of spring, in late
March or early April.
However, word of the change traveled slowly, and many people in rural areas continued to celebrate
the New Year in the spring. These country dwellers became known as “April fools”.
b) Why is this theory not so reliable?
Because the day that the French celebrated the beginning of the year, legally, was Easter day, so it
never really was associated with April 1st.
Traditionally it was only a legal start to the year – people in France did actually celebrate [the New
Year] on January 1st for as long as anybody could remember.
c) What does Boese believe is true about April Fools’ Day?
Boese believes that April Fools’ Day simply grew out of age-old European spring festivals of renewal,
in which pranks and camouflaging one’s identity are common.
d) What is April Fools’ called in France nowadays?
Today in France, April Fools’ Day is called le poisson d’Avril – “the April fish”.
e) How do people celebrate this day in your country?
Open answer.
Photocopiable – Teacher’s copy