Thursday #153 To Peep, or not to Peep....

[Corinna]

I don't want to be the idoit of the bar but just what are the orgains of this day and WHy?

[Killearn Kitties]

Just a San Francisco take on April Fools Day, I assumed, but who knows, maybe there is an official reason! This is what the website has to say about the "pre-history". I think you should have another Diet Lime Coke before you wade through it.

"The church pre history as related by bishop joey, seminal and secular head of the FCLL, worlds fastest growing snack religion,150% less dogma (it's a lite religion) one holy day a year and april first is it.

And low, it came to pass that a table of four did sit and chat at new york city deli (now bagdad cafe) at the corner of 16th and market in the city of san francisco on a day in march 1979. And far and yon did their conversation wander thru subjects of art, life, politics and would a blintz be good to have with coffee about now. And so the wholy present four, Kate, Bob (no not that Bob. you're thinking of Connie and Bob),Ruthie and Ed did presently speak of matters of american society and a day hither to known as April Fools Day. The one known as Ed did remark on it that in comparison to older civilizations past and present, not much is made of this day in the USA ( this Ed having had too much education in matters less rewarding in a mammonish mode ).The medieval feast of fools in europe, the indian (dot, not feathers) holi day, the french poisson de avril, and others, all times of wild in the streets to let off the steam of existence ...all this and more did this Ed say unto said subject. And in our young land it is but a day to say "your sandals are untied" or "what's this apon your tie", yea, even the figure$ for hallmark cards purchased for 4/1 are meager. What's needed is that spirit of the holy fool, ,sun wu kong, anassazi, raven, coyote, groucho....in the face of the purveyors of the present day pressure pushers. And Low, it came to pass some more that this one of four called Ed did mutter the need for a parade thru the temples of our land, the civic symbols of the power that bind us to a slackless life. And low, the blintz did not sit well in his bowels and his brain did swirl in digestive confusion and regurgitate the combined intake of thought and conversation into the words..."SAINT STUPID'S DAY". The rest is history."

[lbaker]

Thanks for clearing that up Karen, I couldn't have said it better myself ~ oh, and by the way your sandals untied!!! Ha ha, made you look

[slick]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!
So this is your special day. Bartender, give the pretty lady whatever she wants and put it on my tab.....just leave out the socks!

Good morning everyone. So it raining....and cold....and windy....and very grey....who cares? It's another Friday....payday....casual day.....and I'm loving it. I'll start off with a Spanish Coffee please. Might move on to something stronger later on; it depends on how work goes.

Be good!

[Killearn Kitties]

Oh how kind, thank you! Perhaps just a small glass of something chilled while I do up my sandals. Hey at least I'm not wearing the socks with the sandals!

[gini]

Oh look - Mario has lined all of the stinkey socks on the rafters again...........well better those than other things he has put up there.
Lady, quit barking at him - he comes back down eventually.

Good morning everyone - did you see the sprinkles out on the deck?

I think I will have some of Slick's Baileys in my coffee and a dollop of whipped cream.

Karen - sit down - let us wait on you on your birthday. Yes, that big pile of presents in the corner are for YOU!!

[Corinna]

Thanks for umm.... clearing that up for me I think. better add a drop of something in my DLC .
Happy birthday.!!

[Killearn Kitties]

What, ALL of those parcels??? Oh how exciting this all is. Do you mind if I shake them all first, and poke them, and try to guess what they are?

[RedHedd]

Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays, the history of April Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring.

The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1.

However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes.

This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus developed into an international fun fest, so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.

In Scotland, for example, April Fool's Day is actually celebrated for two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. It is called Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me" sign can be traced to this observance.

Mexico's counterpart of April Fool's Day is actually observed on December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod. It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.

Pranks performed on April Fool's Day range from the simple, (such as saying, "Your shoe's untied!), to the elaborate. Setting a roommate's alarm clock back an hour is a common gag. Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!"

Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fool's Day. Sometimes, elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a British short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed documentary about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees.

April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next April Fool!