师维

April Fools Day， sometimes referred to as （被称为） All Fools Day， is celebrated on April 1st every year. April 1st is not a national holiday， but is widely recognized and celebrated in many countries. April 1st has long been a day when people play practical jokes， gags （玩笑） and pranks （恶作剧） on each other.

每年的4月1日，人们都会庆祝愚人节，有时候也被称为万愚节。尽管愚人节并非是一个法定的国家节日，许多国家的人们却都已熟知并喜欢在4月1日庆祝这个节日。在愚人节当天，大家会彼此说笑话，开玩笑和做恶作剧。

The origin of April Fools Day is uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons， while others believe it stems from （起源于） the adoption （采用） of a new calendar. In fact， many people think April Fools Day originated （起源于） in France. The theory about the origin of April Fools Day involves （涉及） the French calendar reform （改革） in the sixteenth century. This is the most widely accepted explanation.

愚人节的起源如今已经无法确定。有人认为愚人节是为了庆祝季节的变换，而还有一些人则相信它是源于新年历的启用。事实上，许多人都相信愚人节起源于法国。他们认为，愚人节是来源于十六世纪法国的年历变更。而这一解释已被大家所熟知和接受。

Ancient cultures celebrated New Years Day on or around April 1st. It closely follows the vernal equinox （春分） （March 20th or March 21st）. In medieval times （中世纪）， many European countries celebrated March 25th as the beginning of the New Year. In some areas of France， New Year was a week-long holiday ending on April 1st.

在古代，人们在4月1日左右庆祝新年。新年开始于春分（3月20日或者3月21日）之后。在中世纪，许多欧洲国家将3月25日作为新年的开始。在法国的部分地区，新年的假期持续一周之久，截止到4月1日。

In 1582， Pope （教皇） Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar （the Gregorian Calendar） to replace the old Julian Calendar （罗马儒略历）. The new calendar called for New Years Day to be celebrated on January 1st. That year， France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Years Day to January 1st.

1582年，教皇格列高利十三世决定修改年历，颁布施行格里历（即目前通用的阳历）来取代儒略历，以1月1日作为一年之始。同一年，法国采用新年历，并将新年移至1月1日。

This calendar reform caused much confusion， and years passed before the new calendar system completely took hold （占据；扎根）. People who failed to note the switch （改变） was branded an April fool， because they were still likely to celebrate the old New Years Day on April 1st. For years， there were a small group of people who still mistakenly celebrated the old New Years Day on April 1st. Of course， those who celebrated on January 1st made fun of those who celebrated on other dates. Jokes were played on them by sending them on fools errands （差事） or tricking them into believing ridiculous things.

这次年历改革造成了很多困扰，而且直到很多年后人们才渐渐地熟悉新年历。许多人由于没有注意到这次年历变更而被贴上愚人的标签，因为他们依旧在4月1日庆祝新年。多年后，依然有一小群人在4月1日庆祝新年。当然，主张新年历的人大加嘲弄了这些守旧者。他们愚弄这些守旧者，差遣他们做傻事，或者愚弄他们，让他们相信一些荒谬的事。

The French call the people who are fooled in April Fools Day the April Fish in their local language. To catch the fish in April was very easy since they were so young and naive （天真的；幼稚的）. Since it was just as easy to catch April fish as it was to prank naive people， fools were called April fish.

法国人称呼愚人节里受骗的人为四月鱼。小鱼在四月刚刚出生，糊里糊涂容易上钩。由于戏弄那些容易上当受骗的人就像捉住四月的鱼一样容易，那些容易上当受骗的人就被人们叫做四月鱼。

The idea of the All Fools Day spread rapidly throughout Europe. Todays French children may stick a paper fish to the back of another and tease （戏弄） them. When it is noticed， they cry “the April Fish”. Polish citizens avoid anything serious on that day and prepare various jokes and pranks. In Portugal， people usually throw flour at their friends. In the U.K， Australia， New Zealand and Zimbabwe， pranks and jokes must be done by noon on the April Fools Day， or the prankster （做恶作剧的人） will have bad luck.

愚人节很快的在欧洲流行起来。今天，法国的小孩子会在彼此的背后贴上一条纸做的鱼以愚弄对方。当对方发现他们的恶作剧时，孩子们就齐声高喊“四月的鱼”。波兰市民会在愚人节当天避免任何严肃的行为并准备很多的笑话和恶作剧。在葡萄牙，人们会往好朋友身上扔面粉。在英国、澳大利亚、新西兰和津巴布韦，人们只能在正午12点之前开玩笑和做恶作剧，他们认为过了中午以后继续戏弄人会招致霉运。

April 1st has been a day when people try to fool and are fooled by others. And do remember： April Fools practical jokes should be done in good fun and do not mean to harm anyone. The best jokes are the clever ones where everyone laughs， especially the person who had the joke played on them.

4月1日已经成为人们相互开玩笑和恶作剧的节日。当然，要记住：愚人节的恶作剧一定为了让所有人开心而非伤害他人。那些让所有人都欢笑，尤其是让被戏弄的人欢笑的恶作剧才永远是最好的。