顧　佳

Unlike most of the other holidays, the history of April Fools Day, sometimes called All Fools Day, is not totally clear. There really wasnt a “first April Fools 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.

不同于大多數(shù)別的節(jié)日, 愚人節(jié), 有時被稱為所有愚人的節(jié)日, 它的歷史不是完全清楚的。沒有人能夠在日歷上標(biāo)明第一個愚人節(jié)是什么時候。一些人相信它是同時從幾種文化演變而來的, 從慶祝春天的第一天開始。

The closest point in time that can beidentified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1564, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning just after the first day of spring. The celebration typically ended on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Years Day was moved to January 1.

這個傳統(tǒng)的歷史最早可以追溯到 1564 年的法國。在那年以前, 人們有8 天的時間慶祝新年, 正好從春天的第一天后開始。慶?；顒油ǔＴ?4 月 1 日結(jié)束。在查理九世在位期間，他進行了歷法改革，引進了羅馬教皇Gregory的日歷，并且新年第一天被移至1月1日。

However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. 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.

然而, 在消息還要靠徒步旅行傳播的年代里, 通信變得十分困難。許多人要等幾年才能收到消息。其它固執(zhí)己見的人拒絕接受新日歷并且沿襲在 4 月 1 日慶祝新年的傳統(tǒng)。這些守舊的人被一般的平民稱作“笨蛋”。他們受到嘲笑，并且經(jīng)常被派去做只有笨蛋才做的差事，或者成為惡作劇的笑柄。

This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. 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 Fools Day thus developed into an international fun feast, so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.

這種折磨隨著時間慢慢演變成在4月的第一天搞惡作劇的傳統(tǒng)。這種傳統(tǒng)最后在18世紀(jì)傳播到英格蘭和蘇格蘭，之后傳入到英國人和法國人在美洲的殖民地。愚人節(jié)就這樣發(fā)展成為一個國際性的趣味節(jié)日, 可以說，不同國家的人們樂衷于創(chuàng)造自己獨有的幽默，而他們的朋友和家人就成了實驗對象。

In Scotland, for example, April Fools 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. The origin of the “kick me” sign can be traced to this observance.

在蘇格蘭, 例如, 愚人節(jié)實際上有 2 天的慶祝時間。第二天專門對人體身后的區(qū)域胡鬧。這一天被稱作Taily節(jié)?！疤呶摇臂E象的來源可以追溯至此。

Mexicos counterpart of April Fools Day is actually observed on December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod(about 73 B. C.-4 B. C.). It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.

墨西哥的“愚人節(jié)”發(fā)生在 12 月 28 日。以前, 這一天是用來紀(jì)念被希律王（約公元前73至公元前4年）屠殺的無辜的孩子。后來演變成為包含惡作劇和詭計的紀(jì)念日。

Pranks performed on April Fools Day range from the simple, (such as saying, “Your shoes untied!”), to the elaborate. Setting a roommates alarm clock back an hour is a common gag. Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, “April Fool!”

在愚人節(jié)上被使用的惡作劇從簡單的(例如說:“你的鞋帶開了!”),到精心策劃的,無奇不有。把室友的鬧鐘調(diào)回來一小時是一個普通的把戲。無論怎么胡鬧,騙局結(jié)束的時候，人們通常對受害人喊道：“笨蛋！”

Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fools 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 Fools Day was a fairly detailed documentary about“spaghetti farmers” and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees.

惡作劇是愚人節(jié)的慣例。有時,精心策劃的惡作劇在朋友或親戚中持續(xù)一天。甚至新聞媒體也不甘寂寞。例如,一部曾經(jīng)在愚人節(jié)放映的英國短片名叫“面條農(nóng)夫”，描述的是農(nóng)夫們是如何從面條樹上收割莊稼的。

April Fools Day is a “for-fun-only” observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their “significant other” out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. Its simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next “April Fool”!

愚人節(jié)是一個“享樂”的節(jié)日。沒有人被指望買禮品或邀“他們很在乎的那個人”到一家高級餐館吃飯。沒有人為了慶祝愚人節(jié)，不上班或不上課。它只是一個有趣的小節(jié)日, 但是在這一天，你必須保持時刻警惕, 因為你很有可能成為下一個“笨蛋”！