Not a prank’! Today IS April Fools’ (or Fool’s) day–it depends. Just so you will know, today I’m not “pulling your leg”. Oh, yes, I know. As Paige often said, “Everything doesn’t have to be a joke.” I guess I do like the humorous side of life. But I can be serious. We may have a little fun in this today, but no pranks from me. Today I am straightforward, which means— according to Merriam-Webster: free from evasiveness or obscurity : EXACT, CANDID a straightforward account.
Let us begin with the “When” of April Fools Day: Apparently there is a long history of setting aside a special day to play innocent pranks on friends and neighbors. There are numerous historic inferences to when April Fools Day, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, started; (There are even inferences that Chaucer, in The Canterbury Tales, seemed to acknowledge it). April, 1, 1683 is likely the first official recognition of April Fools day. That is when France followed the lead from Council of Trent (1563 ) which called for the switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.
The first April Fools Day prank that I bit for—hook, line, and sailboat—was in college. A friend rushed into my dormitory room pleading, “Come help us with Ralph!” We rushed upstairs and there sat Ralph, all bandaged up with (apparently) blood oozing through bandages on his head. He looked terrible and was lightly groaning. A friend said, “I think this is all we can do till we get him to the hospital. I’ll get my car. Joe and I will take him.” We all breathed a sigh of relief, asked to be kept posted, and went back to our rooms. At breakfast the next morning, there sat Ralph, clean, neat, among friends, and being his jolly old self. April Fool!
Maybe today would be a good day for friends to gather and laugh at the superb and the sorry April Fools’ Day pranks that have been played on us—or that were the fruit of our balmy brains. There is nothing like a harmless prank played on someone—or have—played upon yourself. The best ones do no harm to the mark—physically, mentally, nor financially. It should not embarrass anyone. It should be fun, something all could laugh about, now and later. And, should never degrade anyone—especially a person with special needs.
April Fools’ Day is apparently universal, but only Ukraine celebrates it as an official holiday. Citizens, when after playing a prank say, “Первое Апреля, никому не верю” (“Pervoye Aprelya, nikomu ne veryu“) – which means ‘On April the First, I trust nobody’ ” thus revealing the prank. This year it might not be much fun, but Ukraine citizens have a way of taking a positive attitude; we are seeing much of that in the midst of this horrible war. “Gallows Humor” often provides levity in horrible situations, even in war, or weather tragedies.
Humor often provides a balm for the the “…slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” It provides comic relief and levity in life. The Psalmist said humor is good medicine. And the teachings of Jesus are fraught with delightful situations of his humor, He often used Eastern hyperbole to make a point. On one occasion he used a twisted family situation, which probably brought a giggle of understanding to his teaching of love.
Enjoy the innocent pranks of today. I hope you have a howling success playing April Fool! today. Have marvelous but mollifying April Fools Day—with lots of fun; be safe.