Note to the reader: Most of the Story is folklore while some is held as fact. Then there is the Author’s added imaginative artistic value. It is left to the reader to decide which is which.




April Fool's Day
the Real Story

by Chuck


Way back in the time of the renaissance there was a young king who had only recently ascended to the throne. While he was yet a prince of the British Empire the first day of the year had been changed from April 1st to January 1st. Those who still celebrated the New Year on the 1st day of April were considered April Fools. Now king and one who himself had always celebrated the New Year on April 1st found himself in a bit of a quandary. He couldn’t very well celebrate on the first while he was the sitting king else he be considered a fool. As he sat on his throne contemplating what he might do being it was the first day of April, he summons the court jester. The jester was an individual that seemed to have a knack for cheering up the king in matters of this nature. The jester came before the king with his usual grandiose entry, doing somersaults, juggling and the likes. And the king beckons him with the wave of his hand in a gesture that his activity wasn’t what the king had in mind. The young king proceeded to explain to him how in times past he had always celebrated the New Year on this day but due to the change he could not, that is without coming across as a fool. The jester quickly suggested the king make him King for the day. The young king pondered his suggestion for a moment then asked, “and what might I ask would you do or decree as King for the day.” The jester’s reply, “anything that is to be done on this day must be absurd.” With that said, the king rose from his throne picked the jester up off the floor and set him on his throne. Took the Royal Crown off his head and put it on the head of the jester. The crown drooped over the jester’s head obviously a few sizes larger but it seemed fitting enough.

The king now no more than a humble subject to the King for the day went about the Kingdom proclaiming the decree of the King, and this to his delight. Whether he was celebrating or not was of no concern he was in fact carrying out the decree. This was an event in the making. Everybody was in amazement and the antics that began taking place left everyone astonished. Think about it, here’s a king roaming about basically telling everyone to be foolish. It is said that at one point the king began drinking with the boy’s in a Pub and was put in the stocks when the lot of them became obnoxious and boisterous. When one of the guards was told by a passer-by that they had the king in the stocks he immediately went to the governor of the province. The governor, who just happened to be in this town that day, went speedily to the stocks to see for himself. The governor had known the king while the present king was yet a prince so he knew when he first set eyes on him that a grievous error had taken place. Terrified by the thought of consequence, he had him released only to realize that the young king thought the whole matter was funny and fittingly absurd. Now there’s a king and a governor frolicking about proclaiming the decree of the King for the day.

The governor by the way had the local madam sit as governor while he enjoyed the day with the king. This set other matters into a downward spiral. The judges of the area were picking their favorite criminal to sit on the bench and decide matters of law. They on the other hand went fishing or hunting while some were said to have been seen entering into brothels. This by the way is where playing hooky was coined a phrase. Many things took place that day the likes of course would be a book in which to write it all. For instance, one of the bakers made the first pineapple upside-down cake and that not by accident. What’s more is England holds April 1st as a national holiday.
April Fool's.

What a cool story... thanks for sharing it :)