The Feast of Fools

When I got on the subway this morning, it was only half full. Either the cherry blossoms were in full bloom at the Tidal Basin, or recent events in this city have made everyone a little skittish about practical jokes. Here is an account of the origin of this dubious holiday:

"...the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1.

"However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace..."

The account goes on to say that, in Mexico, the equivalent to this holiday is celebrated on December 28 -- my birthday. No foolin.'

Meanwhile, in an effort to lend some degree of seriousness to the occastion, former Monty Python member John Cleese gave the annual April Fool's Day lecture at Cornell University, according to the International Herald Tribune.