So here we are

April 1st; April Fool’s Day. It’s a holiday right? On the calendars as a holiday, but no presents, no time off, what’s the history of it all?

I was mighty curious so I set out trying to find information on the web. I found a lot of conflicting information as to what April Fools day meant and where it came from. So I’m going to do a Did You Know on…you guessed it, April Fools Day.

Did You Know: According to the Wikipedia April Fool's Day or All Fools' Day, though not a holiday in its own right is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends and neighbours, or sending them on fools' errands, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. In some countries, April Fools jokes must only be made before midday.

The origin of this custom has been much disputed, and many theories have been suggested what seems certain is that it is in some way or other a relic of those once universal festivities held at the vernal equinox, which, beginning on old New Year's day, the 25th of March, ended on the 1st of April. This view gains support from the fact that the exact counterpart of April-fooling is found to have been an immemorial custom in India. The festival of the spring equinox is there termed the feast of Holi, the last day of which is the 31st of March, upon which the chief amusement is the befooling of people by sending them on fruitless errands.

Though the 1st of April appears to have been anciently observed in Great Britain as a general festival, it was apparently not until the beginning of the 18th century that the making of April-fools was a common custom. In Scotland the custom was known as "hunting the gowk," i.e. the cuckoo, and April-fools were "April-gowks," the cuckoo being there, as it is in most lands, a term of contempt. In France the person befooled is known as poisson d'avril. This has been explained from the association of ideas arising from the fact that in April the sun quits the zodiacal sign of the fish. A far more natural explanation would seem to be that the April fish would be a young fish and therefore easily caught.

The April 1 tradition in France includes poisson d'avril (literally "April's fish"), attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed. This is also widespread in other nations, such as Italy (where the term "April's fish" is also used to refer to any jokes done during the day).

In Spanish-speaking countries, similar pranks are practiced on December 28, the Day of the Holy Innocents. This custom also exists in certain areas of Belgium, including the province of Antwerp. The Flemish tradition is for children to lock out their parents or teachers, only letting them in if they promise to bring treats the same evening or the next day.

In Iran, people play jokes on each other on April 3, the 13th day of the Persian calendar new year (Norouz). This day is called "Sizdah bedar" (Out-door thirteen). It is believed that people should go out on this date in order to escape the bad luck of number 13.

In the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand the April 1 tradition exists, however it is accepted that if somebody pulls an April Fool's Trick after 12pm (mid-day), then the person pulling the trick is actually considered the fool (this caveat may also exist in other countries).
Some Jewish communities have the tradition to have a Purim spiel, which is similar in many ways to April Fool's Day. Fake newspaper articles are common.

All this information and more can be found on Wikipedia…if you can believe the info isn’t a hoax.

Writing related news, well there is none. I’ve been busy chasing my tail and running all over creation. I’m hoping to get back in the saddle, or in this case back on the broom, and get busy writing.

We had Nanny’s birthday party last night and it went very well, we all had a great time visiting. The cake wasn’t quite as I envisioned it. instead of round I did an oblong 9x13 and I framed it with the most beautiful roses. They were a golden color tipped in a deep orange. I also painted the Happy Birthday on with an edible food color paint (in orange) I was quite pleased. When I get the pictures I’ll post one on here so you can see it.

My DD is so funny, I just adore her (and if she sees this she’s going to kill me) we were sitting at Nanny’s waiting for my aunt and another set of cousins to arrive. DD was outside walking and as she was coming back in someone said “oh I think they’re here.” DD walked over and was like “they heard me come in and thought it was me…”

Later outside during a smoking session (myself, an aunt and a cousin all have this habit) DD came outside and as she’s looking around she says “wow it’s so much darker out here than it is inside…” (darlin’ it’s after 8pm…) And she says “But its so much lighter during the day…(heard of sunshine?) I love her, I truly do but she’s inherited the family trait of meaning to say one thing and it coming out another.

Case in point, one of my lovely aunts and I were out shopping when a sweet little nun came by dressed in her habit. My aunt points and says “look at the nut” We all knew she meant nun but, well.

Unfortunately we also hear things that are off. Amy told a story about a cup being dropped on her toe and how painful it was. I swore she said “it was the right kind of pain” and I immediately spoke up, “as to the wrong kind?” She had said point not pain and I was left feeling foolish.
Today my cousin is having a first birthday party for her baby James. To annoy her call him baby Jimmy…

I saw an article on the news, I have to say this new law is a clear violation of the first ammendment right! They have made it illegal to talk on subway trains and platforms in New York City. They have hired new officers strictly for the transportation department to enforce these laws! Tell you what, I wonder how long it’s going to be before law suits start filing in.

All right I have to be running off, a ton of things to do and running short on time to do them. See you all soon and beware of the pranksters.

Huggles and HAPPY READING!

Donica

Just for fun:

Today’s Horrorscope: (yes, horror it’s always a frightening thing to read it and see what I was missing on that specific day) is a hoax: You are very artistic. You have artistic sensibilities. You have artistic socks. In almost every way, this is a good thing. You do a great job decorating. You see possibilities other people don't. You're more in touch than the average bear with the magical and the spiritual. But sometimes you have trouble accepting reality as it is, rather than as it could be. Work on realism.

And tomorrows: You're cool. Yes, you are. Admit it: You have cool ideas, cool plans, a cool head and sometimes maybe you have cold feet. Are you nervous that what you thought you wanted isn't going to turn out to be so cool? Are you thinking about bolting? Giving up the whole project? Don't. It's a good idea and a big idea, and of course you're nervous. But put on wool socks and go for it.
*Horrorscopes courtesy of Yahoo! Astrology