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Foolin' around is old hat
Oh...Silly....no time for such stuff...we ain't that dumb. These are some of the responses of Young Kochi to their `Fooling' agenda on April 1. While new festive occasions like Valentine's Day and all sorts of `days' like Mother's Day, Father's Day, Brother's Day are in vogue, the old All Fools' Day has lost its glam.
Card for April 1st? Bah...That was Archie's staff, looking at you like something that the cat brought in.
Nobody has time for smalltime mischief like the ones committed on April 1. ''We have no time to stand and stare'' as the poet said. Sticking pieces of paper with the words `April Fool' written on it is now seen as being more foolish than the target aimed at.
School kids, yet to be initiated into bigger things like Valentine's Day missions, seem more prone to the idea of April Fooling people. Their innocent full throated laughter at the minor discomfiture of friends who are fooled, keeps this practice alive.
The older generation, however quite looks forward to April 1, because childhood memories never fade away. Says Preethi, ''Once, I stuck a paper with April Fool' written on it on my servant's back and sent her to the market. When she came back, she told me many people were smiling at her unusually at the market. We both laughed a lot when I told her why.''
Then there is this not-so-happy incident in an office in Kochi a few years ago. There was a Hyderabadi boy who longed for a transfer to his homeland. His friends schemed to fool him. They got a transfer order all ready with the `manager's' signature to boot. The poor chap jumped with joy, but his friends chickened out instead of calling him an April Fool. When the truth dawned on him, he was devastated. Wait, it isn't that sad. The authorities concerned, when they heard about it, gave him a real transfer!
Any idea what the origin of this practice is?
Some people think it began this way: In the 16th century, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. When the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, New Year's Day was, of course January 1.
But in those days, people got any news late. (No emails, you see!!). So most people still celebrated the new year as of old, ending the celebrations on April 1. Even when they got the news of the New Year, they refused to believe it. That's when they became April Fools to the rest of the crowd!
What if you have your birthday on April 1? Valid reason for perennial teasing.
Anyway, Happy Fool's Day! (Even if the card companies don't think there is much happiness it)
PREMA MANMADHAN
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