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Unlike most of the other holidays, the history of April Fools Day, sometimes called All Fools Day, is not totally clear. There really wasnt a “first April Fools Day” that can be pinpointed on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring.

不同于大多数别的节日, 愚人节, 有时被称为所有愚人的节日, 它的历史不是完全清楚的。没有人能够在日历上标明第一个愚人节是什么时候。一些人相信它是同时从几种文化演变而来的, 从庆祝春天的第一天开始。

The closest point in time that can beidentified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1564, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning just after the first day of spring. The celebration typically ended on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Years Day was moved to January 1.

这个传统的历史最早可以追溯到 1564 年的法国。在那年以前, 人们有8 天的时间庆祝新年, 正好从春天的第一天后开始。庆祝活动通常在 4 月 1 日结束。在查理九世在位期间，他进行了历法改革，引进了罗马教皇Gregory的日历，并且新年第一天被移至1月1日。

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. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on “fools errands” or were made the butt of other practical jokes.

然而, 在消息还要靠徒步旅行传播的年代里, 通信变得十分困难。许多人要等几年才能收到消息。其它固执己见的人拒绝接受新日历并且沿袭在 4 月 1 日庆祝新年的传统。这些守旧的人被一般的平民称作“笨蛋”。他们受到嘲笑，并且经常被派去做只有笨蛋才做的差事，或者成为恶作剧的笑柄。

This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fools Day thus developed into an international fun feast, so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.

这种折磨随着时间慢慢演变成在4月的第一天搞恶作剧的传统。这种传统最后在18世纪传播到英格兰和苏格兰，之后传入到英国人和法国人在美洲的殖民地。愚人节就这样发展成为一个国际性的趣味节日, 可以说，不同国家的人们乐衷于创造自己独有的幽默，而他们的朋友和家人就成了实验对象。

In Scotland, for example, April Fools Day is actually celebrated for two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. It is called Taily Day. The origin of the “kick me” sign can be traced to this observance.

在苏格兰, 例如, 愚人节实际上有 2 天的庆祝时间。第二天专门对人体身后的区域胡闹。这一天被称作Taily节。“踢我”迹象的来源可以追溯至此。

Mexicos counterpart of April Fools Day is actually observed on December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod(about 73 B. C.-4 B. C.). It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.

墨西哥的“愚人节”发生在 12 月 28 日。以前, 这一天是用来纪念被希律王（约公元前73至公元前4年）屠杀的无辜的孩子。后来演变成为包含恶作剧和诡计的纪念日。

Pranks performed on April Fools Day range from the simple, (such as saying, “Your shoes untied!”), to the elaborate. Setting a roommates alarm clock back an hour is a common gag. Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, “April Fool!”

在愚人节上被使用的恶作剧从简单的(例如说:“你的鞋带开了!”),到精心策划的,无奇不有。把室友的闹钟调回来一小时是一个普通的把戏。无论怎么胡闹,骗局结束的时候，人们通常对受害人喊道：“笨蛋！”

Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fools Day. Sometimes, elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a British short film once shown on April Fools Day was a fairly detailed documentary about“spaghetti farmers” and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees.

恶作剧是愚人节的惯例。有时,精心策划的恶作剧在朋友或亲戚中持续一天。甚至新闻媒体也不甘寂寞。例如,一部曾经在愚人节放映的英国短片名叫“面条农夫”，描述的是农夫们是如何从面条树上收割庄稼的。

April Fools Day is a “for-fun-only” observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their “significant other” out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. Its simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next “April Fool”!

愚人节是一个“享乐”的节日。没有人被指望买礼品或邀“他们很在乎的那个人”到一家高级餐馆吃饭。没有人为了庆祝愚人节，不上班或不上课。它只是一个有趣的小节日, 但是在这一天，你必须保持时刻警惕, 因为你很有可能成为下一个“笨蛋”！