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节日英语:April Fool's day 愚人节

 2008y8m 2011-05-28

再有几天就是西方的愚人节——一年中少有的一个心惊胆战的节日。在这一天,您可以充分发挥想象力,让有序的时间和空间在您手中瞬时翻转,胡作非为在“愚人节”完全有充分的理由和充足的市场。我们本期的“特别关注”没有搞心跳加速的“愚”人游戏,只想在您玩腻了疯狂的闹剧之后走进来享受一片轻松和惬意…

The origin of April Fool's Day

There are different versions as to the origin of April Fool's Day.The most widespread theory links the day to Gregorian calendar reform while others involve mythological legends or anthropological explanations.

关于“愚人节”的来源有各种不同的说法,有人说与一群不愿接受公历纪年的法国保守者有关;也有人说它来源于纪念丰收女神的女儿被诱拐到地狱;还有人说,这个节日始于英国一个名叫“愚人村”的天才村民;另一些说法则认为春天的天气变化无常,因此人们在春分前后可以选择某一日颠倒乾坤,以荒诞的闹剧来迎接春神的到来...至于哪种说法更为可信,全凭您“拭目”定夺喽!

April Fool's dictionary

Has it ever occurred to you that the word "fool" is used in many different and often contradictory ways? The Bible says "speak not in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of thy words," but Shakespeare often used "fools" in his plays as vehicles for wisdom and telling the truth.

不要小看Fool,它可是大有学问的吆。《圣经》中有很多关于“愚人”的有趣表达,如:“不要跟傻子说话,他只会鄙夷智者的言论”。在莎翁的戏剧里, Fool也常常出现,但这时的“愚人”可不是傻子而是绝顶聪明的“宫廷小丑”,他拿愚蠢作护身符说出一般人不愿说出的真话,很应了我们汉语中“大智若愚” 的至理名言。

Trickery in April Fool's day

April Fool's Day is the only day of the year when you can play tricks on people and needn't worry about them getting angry! Here we also introduce to you some moderate pranks. Just remember, play safe and have fun!

4月1日,一年中一个既特别又让人胆战心惊的节日,不知这一天会有多少神经细胞因劳神过度而含冤死去。今年的愚人节,我们除了向您介绍四个独具特色的庆祝方式之外,不得不紧随时代需要推荐三个无伤大雅的恶作剧。在您释放心情的一霎那,愿您的朋友也能开怀一笑!

Enchanting April Fool's postcard

It is said that early April is the season for yong fish. Not only are they easier to catch, but they are more tender and fresh in early April than in other seasons. Accordingly, the yong fish makes a perfect mascot for April Fool's Day. These fish postcards will bring you hours of fun and entertainment. Come on, take a look!

人们说,初春的鱼儿味道最鲜美也最容易上钩,不言而喻,笨笨的鱼儿应是四月愚人节的主角。我们精选了几张独具特色的“鱼儿”明信片,在您玩腻了费尽心思的“愚”人游戏之后,不妨进入我们“特别关注”的最后一个环节——轻轻松松欣赏嬉戏耍乐的鱼儿,愚人节“不愚人”又何尝不是一种独具特色的庆祝方式呢?

英文介绍

April Fools' Day is a day to play jokes on others, No one knows how this holiday began but people think it first started in France.

In the 16 th century, people celebrated New Year's Day from March 25 to April 1. In the mid—1560s King Charles IX changed it from March 25 to January 1. But some people still celebrated in on April 1, so others called them April Fools.

Each country celebrates April Fools' Day differently. In France, people call the April Fools “April Fish”. They tape a paper fish to their friends' backs to fool them. When he or she finds this , they shout “April Fish!”

In England, people play jokes only in the morning. You are a “noodle” if someone fools you. In Scotland, April Fools' Day is 48 hours long. They call an April Fool “April Gowk”. Gowk is another name for a cuckoo bird.

In the America, people play small jokes on their friends and any other people on the first of Aprol. They may point down to your shoe and say, “ Your shoelace is untied.” If you believe them and look down to see, you are an April Fool then.

History of April Fool's Day

The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1.

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 the last day of the former celebration, April 1. 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 "poisson d'avril" or "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 back 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 25 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.

The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31 in India. People play jokes on one another and smear colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring.

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

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