Migration to Canada Booms

Click HERE: Expected to last about 2 years

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Happy All Fools Day

Les Poissons d' Avril

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

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The butts of these pranks became known as "poissons d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke. It's still the favorite April Fool trick of most French and Québecois children to stealthily attach a paper fish to the back of a copain to this day.

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!"

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!

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Stand Out Story of the Week

© Kevin Siers/ The Charlotte Observer

Crass, but Necessary

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Stand Out Story of the Week

Signe Wilkinson in the Philadelphia Daily News

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See Cartoons by Cartoon by Jimmy Margulies - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Eric Allie - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Stand Out Story of the Week

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Traditional Marriage Never Changes, Right?

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White People Problems

White People Problems

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Atom Originals | Sing-Alongs

N A Y S A Y E R S

Credit: The Wizard of Whimsy!

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Stand Out Story of the Week

"In dealing with this situation [Guantánamo], we do not have the luxury of starting from scratch. We are cleaning up something that is -- quite simply -- a mess; a misguided experiment that has left in its wake a flood of legal challenges that my administration is forced to deal with on a constant basis, and that consumes the time of government officials whose time should be spent on better protecting our country." -- President Barack Obama, address at the National Archives, 5/21/2009

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See Cartoons by Cartoon by Daryl Cagle - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

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Stand Out Story of the Week

??? Who's Afraid of the Big Swine Flu ???

tip of the Hat to ArtMaggot for this image

Stand Out Story of the Week

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Foreign Policy Outreach Irks Wingnuts

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The Last Hurrah of Homo-Bigotry?

Frank Rich had this astounding summary opinion piece in the NY Times this week. Is the horror of homo-bigotry's "acceptability" nearly over? Are we really witnessing the "Last Hurrah" for this hatred as Rich points out? Read the whole opinion, it's worth the time!

And for a further hilarious take on this "last hurrah" see the below Colbert Nation Classic parody.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Colbert Coalition's Anti-Gay Marriage Ad
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

Where Bible-Based Homophobia Leads

Click on the image for an enlarged, readable view
of this quaint little poster appearing in opposition
to a recent visit to a California campus by
the nefarious FredFiends of Westboro Baptist.