April Fools

[wolfinthewood]

Fooles Holy Day.

Ovid’s Fastorum, lib. II.

Lux quoque cur eadem Stultorum festa vocetur,
[accipe].*


We observe it on the first of April.

And so it is kept in Germany everywhere.

John Aubrey (1626–1697)

from Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme (1688)

*[Learn] why the same day (17th February) is also called the Feast of Fools. Ovid, Fasti, 2.513f


tag: folk custom

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Comments

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

Is this the earliest reference in English to this tradition, do you know?

(I observed the day most devoutly, as a complete fool ought.)

[wolfinthewood.livejournal.com]

You inspire me to do a quick check in the OED:

1687 CONGREVE The Old Bachelor. I. iv, That's one of Love's April-fools, is always upon some errand that's to no purpose.

Pretty much the same time.

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Thank you for looking.

I didn't think it was possible to love Congreve more than I already do. Even if he did abandon everything for politics... the fool.