April fool's day...what does that mean?

Well, where did this come from? This interesting tradition...hmmm...let's see.

Constantine and Kugel

Another explanation of the origins of April Fools' Day was provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.

"In a way," explained Prof. Boskin, "it was a very serious day. In those times fools were really wise men. It was the role of jesters to put things in perspective with humor."

This explanation was brought to the public's attention in an Associated Press article printed by many newspapers in 1983. There was only one catch: Boskin made the whole thing up. It took a couple of weeks for the AP to realize that they'd been victims of an April Fools' joke themselves.
Spring Fever

It is worth noting that many different cultures have had days of foolishness around the start of April, give or take a couple of weeks. The Romans had a festival named Hilaria on March 25, rejoicing in the resurrection of Attis. The Hindu calendar has Holi, and the Jewish calendar has Purim. Perhaps there's something about the time of year, with its turn from winter to spring, that lends itself to lighthearted celebrations.

whew...pretty interesting...however...I rather think we are simply a playful lot. Just part of the human condition to me...something of our need to be pranksters of sorts...and that is something that I would say...can be good...if you know what I mean...something like this...



Well, this seems a bit over the top...but forgive the lad...he is Australian...or at least I think he is...

Happy April Fool's Day...to all my friends and family....oh and one more thing...

I just won the lottery...hmmm...let's see who calls...

Love,
The Lass