If you have ever wondered who the April Fool is and why he got his name ..or even how and why we celebrate his own special day....April Fool's Day.....this is his story.
The 'Fool' was born on April 1, 1582, in France. His name was Guy de Gowk. When he was born, everyone stared at him in absolute and utter amazement. "It must be a trick!" they exclaimed. "He looks quite the fool!"
It might have been his rakish grin, or perhaps the ear that was just not quite 'right'. He had the strangest little chicken legs...or perhaps they more closely resembled those of a turkey, as he also had a bit of a gobble. He always had a big grin on his face and loved to chortle with delight and glee. He had a strange penchant for bright objects and would stare at any and all of them for hours and hours.
His parents, hung strange objects above his crib...candelabras and pendants and flags and baubles to keep him entertained and in the process they created the first infant mobile. He loved his mobile dearly, and would reach up and grab them and hide them from his parents, then suddenly pull one of them out from behind his pillow and yellow 'cuckoo, cuckooo!' He roared with delight at his own cleverness, delighting his parents, as well.
Being so different and not ever really looking like his own parents or anyone else he knew, Guy grew up to be quite the loner but he also developed an understanding and appreciation for those that are different and often made the butt of other people's jokes. So, he turned the tables on those who teased him and played pranks on them, instead.
He came to be much loved by the members of his little village. He was the prankster who was always trying to trick others into believing his jokes and his ridicules. He loved to spring out from the bushes and yell 'cuckoo, cuckoo' and throw old dead fishes upon passersby. He would laugh uproariously and they would get even...by later pinning caricatures of dead fish upon his own back when he wasn't looking. Thus, in great jesting and fun, they made him the 'poisson d'avril', or 'April fish' instead.
The townspeople continued to love and to care for him, but soon became tired of his constant pranks and sought to teach him a lesson. They decided to pull one big prank on him for a change. They planned a special day where the whole town would pull one practical joke, only this time the jokes would be on the little Guy. This event became known as 'hunting the gowk' or 'the cuckoo.' In France, it is known as 'Poisson d'Avril'....the April Fish...as the fish is the zodiac sign for April and the April fish is believed to be caught easily, as Guy most certainly was!
Once, the townspeople caught Guy de Gowk,they put up a 'kick me' sign on his back and pulled him through the town, dancing and yelling and carousing around him. They celebrated his catch for a full forty-eight hours, dressing him up in silly outfits and sending him on unusual and silly errands around the town.
In spite of all of the jokes and ridicule, Guy took it all in stride. He delighted in having his own special day and stayed in high spirits and light-heartedness. He knew in his heart that after a full year of pulling pranks on the townspeople, it was only fair that they got their day to trick him back. He liked playing the fool and he loved having a day celebrating silliness and fun in his honor. It became a tradition in this small town, to celebrate Guy's own special day every spring on the first day of April and became known as 'April Fool's Day'.
Others, hearing about all of the fun and hearing the laughter and merriment's for many miles, began to celebrate their own 'Guy de Gowk' or 'All Fool's Day.' It became an annual event, the time to officially welcome Spring, let go of Winter's cares and sadness and just truly enjoy life.
To this day, we continue to celebrate this tiny, odd little 'April Fool.' We may have forgotten his name, his origins or his peculiarities, but we still love the pranks, the merriment's and the fun of 'Guy de Gowk'...the little cuckoo.
©With Heart and Hands
Michele M. Bilyeu, Salem OR
"SPLAT!"
April Fool's !!!
Yes, dear readers I made up this entire story!
This is NOT how April Fool's Day began ;-)
I felt so badly for all of the comments for those that I fooled that I put it back into draft mode. But now ...hey!..you're all fair game again.
You may link to this post but not copy and post!
It took me a very long time to create this story!!!!
©With Heart and Hands
Michele M. Bilyeu, Salem OR
Linking Up with Nina Marie and her Off the Wall Fridays!
Michele Bilyeu Creates With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands.
8 comments:
I love your story. The 'first infant mobile' line gave it away for me.
I have one criticism. When the townspeople pull him around for 48 hours, the second day he should be allowed to chortle, "April Fool's done passed. You're the biggest fool at last!"
Good one, Jean!!!!
What a delightful story! 😁
Thanks, Angie! Did I trick you or were you expecting a trick?
LOL........I got my daughter and my best friend AND her husband REALLY good today! But Frank played the best one on his mother. She went into labor on April 1st and he was not born until April 2!
Good story and yes, I totally believed it.
It is fun when an April Fool's joke works. But your husband's joke..ha! Poor mama but kudos to her I bet she's learned to turn the table on him, instead ;-)
Even better! !! Thank you, Norma! I only do it once a year. The rest of my Tom foolery is all with fabric!
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