No Fooling

[deckardcanine]

Just why is April 1 the day for celebrating pranks?
No source can say for certain. Many theorists give their thanks
To Chaucer, who described a trick within the Nun’s Priest’s Tale,
But dating it to April stems from scribal copy fail.
Another theory holds that those observing a new year
At March’s end provoked the more Gregorian to jeer,
But Brits had April Fools before their calendar would change.
To mock their own tradition on that basis would be strange.
Some scholars cite Hilaria, an ancient Roman fest,
But that was March and long ago; the link is not the best.
Still others note that India has Holi near that time,
But that is even more removed; the theory isn’t prime.
A bunch of other rituals are sometimes said to be
Potential inspirations, but they sure don’t work for me.
That said, there may be something to connecting it with spring,
When hearts are light and weather is a very fickle thing.
Just don’t believe that Constantine gave kingship for a day
To Kugel; that’s a hoax that a professor liked to say.