« Curious minds really want to know! | Main | What's Wrong with this Picture? »
March 31, 2005
Happy Foolish New Year
Up until around 1582 the world followed the Julian calendar, and New Year's day was celebrated on April 1st. The Gregorian calendar changed all that, moving New Year's Day to January 1st but word spread slowly. Some didn't know and others still refused to acknowledge the change. These people were called fools and the tradition of playing pranks was started, some say in France.
Interestingly the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria (March 25th), was celebrated the day after the vernal equinox (the first day of spring, the first day the day was longer than the night), which was around the end of the Celtic New Year's festival. Although now called the Roman festival of laughing, I have not been able to conclusively link Hilaria to the word hilarious. The Holi festival in India is also celebrated on March 25th, which is another Spring celebration.
Funny that April Fools Day should remain such a fun filled, pranked up celebration.
Posted by photocartoonist at March 31, 2005 12:06 AM