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April Fool's Day is traditionally a day to play practical jokes on others, send people on fool's errands(差事),or try to make people believe that something false was true.It was thought to have originated(起源)in France.
In the sixteenth century, New Year's Day was celebrated on March 25 and celebrations lasted until April 1st.When New Year's Day was changed from March 25 to January 1st in the mid-1560's by King Charles IX, there were some people who still celebrated it on April 1st and those people were called April Fools.
It is fun to see how different countries celebrate this“foolish”holiday.In France, the April Fool's is called“April Fish”.The French fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends'backs and when the“fools”discover this trick, they were called“April Fish”!
In England, tricks can be played only in the morning.If a trick is played on you, you are a“noodle”.In Scotland, April Fool's Day lasts two days and you are called an“April Gowk(杜鹃鸟;呆子)”if you are fooled by others.
In Portugal, April Fool's is celebrated on the Sunday and Monday before Lent(四旬斋).The traditional trick there is to throw flour at your friends.
In America, Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April.One common trick is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, “Your shoelace(鞋带)is untied.”
Have you got any terrific plan for the coming April Fool's?Be careful, someone around may already have the surprising gift for you, too!
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