提要

今天是愚人節，在這一天，歐美國家的人們，習慣以多種方式整人惡作劇。平時道貌岸然、教訓小朋友「不可說謊」的大人，這天也會胡說八道、彼此互整，上當者被告知是愚人節時，才恍然大悟。甚至平時講究精準求真的傳播媒體，有些也會在愚人節製造假新聞，例如某個荷蘭媒體曾經報導，義大利著名的比薩斜塔已經倒塌；英國BBC電台則播出南極企鵝飛往雨林過冬的紀錄影片。不過，某些玩笑也會因開得過大而引起恐慌，甚至衍生成為網路謠言。在英國，愚人節有個約定俗成的嚴格規矩：惡作劇只能到中午十二時之前，因為據說下午繼續惡作劇會招來惡運。

The history of April Fool's Day is uncertain,about that, there are several types of statement:

In 1564, the French King Charles IX decided to adopt the chronology of the new reform - the Gregorian calendar（ie, the current Gregorian calendar）, and New Year's Day was moved from to April 1st to January 1st.

Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on theApril 1st.

These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a "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.

This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.

In Scotland, for instance, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April "Gowk", another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the "Kick Me" sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance.

In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called "gobs"or" gobby"and the victim of a joke is called a"noodle". It was considered bad luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.

In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the god Attis, is on March 25th and is also referred to as " Roman Laughing Day."

In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends.

So, no matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1st, don't be surprised if April fools fall playfully upon you.



愚人節的起源，大約有下列幾種說法：

〔一〕在十六世紀，法國國王查理九世決定採用新的紀年法——格里高利曆（即目前通用的陽曆），以一月一日為一年的開始，改變了過去以四月一日為新年的開端。

一些守舊派反對這種改革，依然按照舊的曆法在四月一日這天送新年禮、慶祝新年。主張改革的人嘲弄守舊派，在四月一日送他們假禮物，邀請他們參加假聚會。當人上當受騙的時候，捉弄他的人會大聲叫：「四月之魚」，意為「四月惡作劇」。這句成語的由來與原來之意義已不清楚。叫做「四月魚」，是因為一尾年幼的魚比較天真、容易上當。此外，一個常見的惡作劇做法，是偷偷地在人的背後勾上一條紙魚。從此，四月一日捉弄人便流傳開來。

〔二〕大英百科全書裡面記載：「愚人節」乃是公元十五世紀宗教革命後出現的一個說謊節日。那時西班牙王腓力二世曾經建立一個「異端裁判所」，只要不是天主教徒就被視為異端，在每年四月一日處以死刑。臣民於是每天以說謊取笑為樂，來沖淡對統治者之恐懼與憎恨。沿用日久，演變為今日之「愚人節」。

〔三〕相傳距人類始祖亞當之後約一千六百五十年，上帝以洪水來毀滅世界，亞當三子塞特的後代諾亞，以一條人造的大船保全了一家大小的生命。洪水稍退之後，諾亞便放出一隻白鴿探求陸地，因為這一天正好是四月一日。後人認為，在這一天去做一種毫無意義的事，就好像一隻做白工的白鴿一樣，行為愚蠢。成為「愚人節」之起源。

〔四〕古羅馬殘籍記載：羅馬在每年四月初舉行「蔓姜會」，某年「蔓姜會」，主宰之神雪麗絲之女白洛賽蘋娜在極樂園採摘水仙花時，遇見冥府王菩拉多，兩人一見鍾情，互相示愛，菩拉多便娶白洛賽蘋娜為冥府王后，當他們兩個返回冥府時，菩拉多差使冥府中鬼怪發出嗤嗤笑聲，以愚弄雪麗絲，雪麗絲果真循著聲音的來源傻傻地尋覓愛女。因此，他們便以每年之「蔓姜會」為「愚人節」。

隨著時間的推移，惡作劇繼續在四月的第一天演變，這個傳統最終普及歐美各國，每個國家各以自己的方式慶祝愚人節。

看完了中文的解說，再回去讀一次關於April Fool's Day的英文短文，會發現其實你看得懂不少內容喔！

不妨找朋友、同學或爸爸媽媽問一問：「你知不知道愚人節的由來？」不論對方回答什麼，都可以念一段英文給他聽，看著他驚訝的表情，也是歡度愚人節的好點子！