染雾April Fool's Day Traditions (Article 1)
April Fool's Day, also known as All Fools' Day, is celebrated in many countries around the world on the 1st of April. It is a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other, often with the aim of making others look foolish or gullible. Let's take a closer look at some of the common traditions and customs associated with this light-hearted and humorous day.
One of the most popular April Fool's Day traditions is the act of playing practical jokes on friends, family, and co-workers. These pranks can range from harmless and funny to elaborate and creative. Some common examples include putting salt in the sugar bowl, hiding someone's personal belongings, or placing a whoopee cushion on someone's chair. It is important to remember that the pranks should be harmless and not cause any harm or distress to others.
Another tradition is the publication of fake news stories and hoaxes by newspapers, media outlets, and even companies. These fake stories are often outrageous and meant to trick people into believing something that is not true. In recent years, with the rise of social media, fake news has become more prevalent, making it even more important to verify information before believing or sharing it.
In some countries, there are specific customs associated with April Fool's Day. In France, for example, it is common to try and stick a paper fish on someone's back without them noticing. This is known as "Poisson d'Avril," which translates to "April Fish." In Scotland, the tradition is to send someone on a "fool's errand" by asking them to complete a task that is impossible or nonsensical.
April Fool's Day is not just about playing pranks and hoaxes, but also about laughter and good-natured humor. It is a day when people can let loose and have fun, as long as it is done in a respectful and considerate manner. It is important to remember that not everyone may appreciate or enjoy practical jokes, so it is always a good idea to gauge the person's sense of humor before playing a prank on them.
In conclusion, April Fool's Day is a day to celebrate humor and playfulness. It is a time when people can come together and share a laugh, even if it means being the victim of a harmless prank. Whether it's playing a practical joke on a friend or reading a fake news story, April Fool's Day is a day to embrace silliness and enjoy the lighter side of life.
April Fool's Day Pranks Around the World (Article 2)
April Fool's Day, also known as All Fools' Day, is celebrated in various ways around the world. While the general theme of playing pranks and hoaxes remains the same, different countries have unique customs and traditions associated with this light-hearted day. Let's explore some of the interesting April Fool's Day pranks from different parts of the world.
In France, April Fool's Day is known as "Poisson d'Avril," which translates to "April Fish." The tradition is to try and stick a paper fish on someone's back without them noticing. This can be done by drawing a fish on a piece of paper and then discreetly attaching it to someone's clothes. Once the person discovers the fish, they are considered the "fool" of the day.
In Scotland, April Fool's Day is celebrated with a tradition known as the "fool's errand." This involves sending someone on a task that is impossible or nonsensical. For example, asking someone to fetch a "left-handed screwdriver" or directing them to a fictional location. The person who falls for the prank is then dubbed the "April fool."
In Italy, April Fool's Day is called "Pesce d'Aprile," which also translates to "April Fish." The tradition is similar to the one in France, where people play pranks by sticking fish-shaped cutouts on each other's backs. Additionally, Italian newspapers and media outlets publish fake news stories and hoaxes to fool the public.
In India, April Fool's Day is not widely celebrated, but there is a similar tradition called "Holi Milan." On this day, people play pranks on each other and engage in light-hearted mischief. It is a day when people can let loose and have fun, similar to the spirit of April Fool's Day in other countries.
While these customs may vary from country to country, the underlying theme of April Fool's Day remains constant – to bring laughter and joy through harmless pranks and jokes. It is a day when people can set aside their seriousness and embrace the lighter side of life.
In conclusion, April Fool's Day is a global celebration of laughter and humor. Whether it's sticking a paper fish on someone's back, sending them on a fool's errand, or reading a fake news story, people around the world come together on this day to share a laugh and enjoy the light-heartedness of pranks. So, embrace the spirit of April Fool's Day and remember to approach the day with a sense of fun and playfulness.
愚人节习俗英文版 篇三
Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays, the history of April Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring.
April fool：愚人节时受愚弄的人，中文多译作“四月傻瓜”。没有人能够在日历上准确地标出第一个愚人节的位置，即“没有人知道第一个愚人节是什么时候开始的。”pinpoint：精确地确定......的位置(性质、原因等)，确认。有些人认为它可能是同时从几种文化演变而来的，源自与春季第一天有关的庆祝活动。sort of:(口)近似，有那么点儿。
The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to (4)that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1(5).
查理九世在位期间进行了历法改革，引进了阳历，并且把新年第一天移至1月1日。Charlex IX：查理九世，法兰西国王[1560-1574];Gregorian Calendar：格列高利历，即目前全世界通用的阳历。
However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years(6). Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1(7). These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes(8).
然而，在那个消息还有靠徒步旅行传播的年代里，有许多人过了好几年后才得到这个消息。一帮冥顽不化的家伙却拒绝接受新历法，依旧在4月1日那天庆祝新年。他们受到嘲笑，并且经常被派去做只有笨蛋才做的差事，或者成为恶作剧的对象。butt：(嘲弄等的)对象，笑柄;practical joke：恶作剧。
This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April(9). The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus developed into an international fun feast(10), so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.
这种折磨人的行为随着时间慢慢演变成在4月的第一天搞恶作剧的传统。
In Scotland, for example, April Fool's Day is actually celebrated for two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. It is called Taily Day(11). The
例如在苏格兰，愚人节实际上要过两天。第二天专门对人身后部位(谑指屁股)胡闹。这一天被称作Taily节，这一天专门玩跟臀部有关的恶作剧，通常做法是悄悄地在别人的臀部贴上写着“踢我”的标签，显得十分滑稽。
Mexico's counterpart of April Fool's Day is actually observed on December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod. It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery(13).
最初这一天是用来纪念被希律王屠杀的那些无辜的孩童，结果却演变成了一个充满恶作剧和诡计的较为轻松的纪念日。King Herod：希律王(希律大帝)，罗马统治时期的犹太国王，统治后期凶恶残暴，曾下令屠戮伯利恒城男婴;commemoration：庆祝会，纪念仪式;trickery：诡计，耍花招。
Pranks performed on April Fool's Day range from the simple, (such as saying, "Your shoe's untied!), to the elaborate(14). Setting a roommate's alarm clock back an hour is a common gag(15). Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!" (16)
无论哪种恶作剧，都会以其始作俑者朝受害者大喊：“四月傻瓜!”而宣告结束。
Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fool's Day. Sometimes, elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a British short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed documentary about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees. (17)
例如，曾在愚人节放映过一部英国短片，那是一部相当详尽的纪录片，讲述了“种面条的人”以及他们是如何从面条树上收割面条的。spaghetti：意大利式细面条。
April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other(18)" out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant(19), for he may be the next April Fool!
单词与短语
prior to：在......之前
feast：节日，盛宴。
observance：风俗习惯，惯例
elaborate：精心策划的
gag：恶作剧，戏弄。
significant other：伴侣
vigilant：警觉的，警惕的。
prank：胡闹，恶作剧。
trickster：(原始民间故事、神话传说中以各种伪装出现的)恶作剧精灵。
