Happy April Fools Day

The First of April, some do say

Is set apart for All Fools' Day;

But why the people call it so

Nor I, nor they themselves, do know.

But on this day are people sent

On purpose for pure merriment.

"All Fools Day"

Attributed to "Poor Robin's Almanack

Vintage April Fool Greeting

Although All Fools or April Fool's Day is considered  an ancient

if rather obscure observance, some authorities point to the story of

 the biblical Great Flood and Noah and the Ark as it's true origin.

  According to a feature printed in a March 1769 

publication, The London Public Advertiser: "The mistake of Noah sending

the dove out of the ark before the water had abated, on the first day of April,

and to perpetuate the memory of this deliverance it was thought proper,

whoever forgot so remarkable a circumstance, to punish them by sending

them upon some sleeveless errand similar to that ineffectual message

upon which the bird was sent by the patriarch."

Today this day is a time for telling jokes and pulling usually harmless

pranks in the interest of fun and/or tricking or "fooling" someone caught off guard, 

  with the prankster afterwards declaring, "April Fools!"  Hopefully,
the designated recipient has a good sense of humor!

THE FIRST OF APRIL

When indoors young ones club their wicked wits,

And almost frighten servants into fits-

"Oh, John! James! John!-Oh, quick! oh, Molly, oh!

Oh, the trap-door! oh, Molly! down below!"

"What, what's the matter!" scream, with wild surprise,

John, James, and Molly, while the young ones' cries

Redouble till they come; then all the boys

Shout, "Ah, you April fools!" with clamorous noise:

And little girls, enticed downstairs to see,

Stand peeping, clap their hands, and cry, "Te-hee!"

Each gibing boy escapes a different way,

And meet again, some trick "as good as that" to play.

"April Fool, 1948"

Norman Rockwell


"The First Of April"
 William Hone
(1780-1842)
English writer, satirist, and bookseller