A long time ago, the New Year was generally celebrated on or around April 1 in the Western World. March 25 was the day that many European towns had settled on to usher in the new year, and April 1st was the last day of the New Year holiday.
If you think about it, this makes sense since it is the start of a month closest to the beginning of spring. A "renewal" of sorts.
Some date the year of the first "April Fool's Day" in 1508, some 1561 or 1564, and others as far back as 1392. In 1895, William Ralston Balch claimed that the foolishness of the first of April first belonged to Noah in the book of Genesis by sending the dove out of the ark "before the water had abated, on the first day of the month among the Hebrews, which answers to the 1st of April."
So, the jury's out.
Nevertheless, in France, the folks who hung on to tradition and continued celebrating the new year's festivities on or until the first of April were thus called "April Fools." Friends and enemies alike would play tricks on them, mocking them for their perceived ignorance.
The first British reference to "Fooles holy day" was in 1686, but the year 1567 may be the most "official" start to a real April Fool's Day. In 1564, the Edict of Roussillon decreed that the year would begin in France on January 1st. This law or declaration was to be applied across France no later than 1567.
Why was this so important or necessary?
King Charles IX of France had found that not only did folks not all celebrate the New Year on January 1, nearly every French diocese started their year on days of their own choosing. The most popular days were Christmas, January 1, March 1, March 25, or on the moveable feasts of either Holy Saturday or Easter.
Today, in France, someone celebrating the new year today is called a poisson d'Avril, or "April fish." In Scotland, they'll call you an "April Cuckoo."
Fair warning: As per the heretofore unknown Fools Code, supposedly, if you play jokes after 12 noon, you become the fool. Sorry, Charlie.
The most impressive prank I can remember was when I was in the third grade and a kid named Nathan figured out a way to make pink "candies" out of that powdered soap that used to be in the elementary school restrooms. The kid spent a lot of time and even wrapped them in cellophane.
He may have even got some kids to pay him. I can't quite remember, the decades are getting to me. Either way, I do remember that unsuspecting schoolmates were rightfully appalled.
I also remember him getting in trouble a lot…shocker… but at that stage, he was way more intelligent and enterprising (and devious) than the rest of us.
Enough reminiscing, and for what it's worth, I've celebrated the new year every year on this day, cultural conventions notwithstanding. It's just the way my cycle turned out.
It's hard being the Fool every year. Nobody believes me. Maybe you can today since, as I write this, it is no longer earlier than noon anywhere across the globe.
If you'd like to compensate me for my 49th suffering as a Fool, I'd suggest buying me a pie, but since my favorite pie shop, Papa C's Pies, recently shuttered its doors permanently, I'm not really in the market for subpar pie.
But I'm always willing to find the next great pie, eat it, and evangelize for it. Same thing with burritos.
Send pies, pastries, candy, (no burritos, please) or general correspondence here:
Brian O'Leary
c/o O'Leary Digital
15559 Union Ave. #605
Los Gatos, CA 95032
I am also interested in what bitcoin will do over the next few months and years . If you want to send me some bitcoin, I'd be grateful, but it's not necessary.
My "Lightning address" is: briandoleary@strike.me
If you don't know what either bitcoin or a Lightning address is, don't worry. Continue living your life and stay out of these wormholes.
But, if you are interested in finding out more and start your own little cache of bitcoin, you join me over at Strike, where I've started slowly building a stash.
As always,
Brian
