Once again, the Old Farmer's Almanac comes through with some little gems for today...!
Although the origin of playing practical jokes and pranks on this day is hazy, many folklorists believe that it may go back to 16th-century France.
At that time, New Year’s Day was March 25, with a full week of partying and exchanging gifts lasting until April 1. In 1582, the Gregorian calendar moved New Year’s Day back to January 1.
Those who forgot or refused to honor the new calendar were the butts of jokes and ridicule.
Weather folklore states:
If it thunders on All Fools’ Day, it brings good crops of corn and hay.
On April 1, see both April and May weather predictions for your area—free.
In honor of April 1, we remind you of some very foolish things that have happened within this month.
• Any fool knows that tax day is April 15, but, fittingly, April is also the month in which the U.S. Mint was established, in 1792.
• Alec Guinness was born April 2, 1914, later gaining his fame by publishing every foolish feat that ever set a record.
• On April 7, 1857, snow fell in every southern state in the United States, just to make fools of the weathermen, no doubt.
• And finally, to cap off the foolishness, on April 29, 1848, Niagara Falls stopped flowing for 30 hours. Now that’s foolish!
To be a fool at the right time is also an art.
Now, Let's get another cup of coffee, my friend! It's fresh...NO FOOLING!
