I'm a fool every day of the year! (April Fools History)
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
March 31, 2017 11:38pm CST
How about I cut out the shape of a fish and place it on your back? That's what people in the 1500's had to endure, especially if they hadn't quite caught up to the switch from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar.
While it's apparently not quite clear WHEN it began, the speculation is that it had to do with the confusion after the switch from Julian to Gregorian Calendar system. In the Julian Calendar, The New Year was celebrated the last week of March, onto April 1st.
Another theory is that it had to do with a Roman festival called Hilaria, that involved people dressing up in disguises. This too happened at the end of March.
You can read more about it on the link below.
What do you have planned as a way to "Fool" your friends? Or are you the one easily "fooled" ?
On this day in History, April Fools tradition popularized on Apr 01, 1700. Learn more about what happened today on History.
7 people like this
7 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
I'm just not that creative to think of something to trick people with.
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
1 Apr 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I am not creative either. We have house guests. I would love to think of a fun prank in the morning
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
@paigea Hmm. I wish I could help you with that, but I don't know... The only ones I can come up with involve switching things... Like whipped topping instead of shaving cream...
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8321)
• United Kingdom
1 Apr 17
I've never heard of the fish thing, but over here you are safe once it gets past 12 noon. I don't think I got fooled today, but they do say there's no fool like an old fool. So I might have without realising it.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8321)
• United Kingdom
1 Apr 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I've been fishing a few times and never caught a thing, so they are not that gullible. Mind you, I have the same success fishing for complements.
The rule here in the UK is only til 12 noon, then no fooling around. 
The rule here in the UK is only til 12 noon, then no fooling around. 1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
@Orson_Kart Hardly any time at all to be a fool or be fooled then!
I've never caught a fish either, though I suppose one must do more than stare at the body of water to actually catch anything...
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
The fish was apparently very "gullible" (easy to catch) and I guess that's why the "fools" would find a drawn fish of that type on their backs? Atleast it wasn't the real thing!
Why is it "safe" after noon?
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
That might have been the same type from this article? Apparently, it's an "April Fish" and it's the easiest ("gullible") to catch.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Apr 17
@LadyDuck I am sensitive to things like that.. I mean someone would have to have a very light touch for me not to notice them sticking something to it.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502950)
• Italy
2 Apr 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I remember we wrote silly phrases on the fish we hang and many did not realize for hours that there is something hanging on their back.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24119)
• United Kingdom
1 Apr 17
People used to cringe on 1st of April if they knew I was working that day too as they would know I would invariably have something planned. Thankfully I have finally grown up last week! Nothing planned for today!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
Right on the nick of time!
I don't believe I've ever been pranked in a working environment... but I have a friend (and her family even!) who love to prank... It wouldn't surprise me if I received a text message or call trying to convince me of one thing or another today.
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Apr 17
I can't say "Hey, it's snowing!" because it's actually snowing.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
How much has it snowed there recently?
I think a crueler joke would be "Hey it's stopped snowing!" when it actually IS snowing.. but then that would only work for those tired of the snow.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
1 Apr 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum It's not sticking, but it's snowing pretty hard right now.
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
1 Apr 17
Very interesting. I don't fool others because I don't enjoy being fooled. My fiance usually gets me though and I fall for it every time.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
I'm not the biggest fan of it myself, but I've tolerated it over the years.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Apr 17
I am the prankster, But every once and a while someone gets me.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Apr 17
I tend to be the one "pranked."
I guess I'm just not much for pranking others.
1 person likes this
