April Fools’ Day - WordPress.com...4. Name one other possible origins of April Fools’ Day are...
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April Fools’ Day April Fools’ Day – or ‘All Fools’ Day’ happens every year on 1st April and is a time for playing practical jokes on others for fun. When Did It Start? No one really knows for sure when it began, but most people think that it started after 1582 when the calendar we use today was introduced. Some people didn’t change straight away and were still celebrating New Year on the 1st of April which is when it was before the calendars changed and some people thought they were foolish. Others think that a fun celebration started with the ancient Romans as they had festivals in spring called ‘Hilaria’ (say: hill-air-ee-er) around that time too around the spring equinox. What Happens on April Fools’ Day? April Fools’ Day is a fun time when harmless, but funny tricks are played on others. Even the television and newspapers get involved so be careful what you read and hear on that day! In Scotland, if someone plays a trick on you, you are called an ‘April Gowk’. A Gowk is the name for a cuckoo, or foolish person in Scotland. In France, the day is called ‘Poisson d’Avril’ (say: pwass-on dav-rill) meaning ‘April Fish’ because on this day children stick paper fish to the backs of adults and run away laughing. Watch the Time… In many areas, if you try to play a trick after midday, then you become the fool. If you are fooled after noon, you can say: “April Fools’ has passed and gone, you are the fool and I am none.” Famous April Fools’ Day Tricks • In 1998, a burger company advertised new ‘left-handed’ burgers. Thousands of people visited the shops trying to buy them. • In 1957, even the BBC got involved with a short fake film about spaghei trees in Italy. Many people believed that spaghei grew on trees and wanted to know how to grow them at home. The reply was: “Place a sprig of spaghei in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.” Page 1 of 2
Transcript of April Fools’ Day - WordPress.com...4. Name one other possible origins of April Fools’ Day are...
April Fools’ DayApril Fools’ Day – or ‘All Fools’ Day’ happens every year on 1st April and is a time for playing practical jokes on others for fun.
When Did It Start?No one really knows for sure when it began, but most people think that it started after 1582 when the calendar we use today was introduced. Some people didn’t change straight away and were still celebrating New Year on the 1st of April which is when it was before the calendars changed and some people thought they were foolish.
Others think that a fun celebration started with the ancient Romans as they had festivals in spring called ‘Hilaria’ (say: hill-air-ee-er) around that time too around the spring equinox.
What Happens on April Fools’ Day?April Fools’ Day is a fun time when harmless, but funny tricks are played on others. Even the television and newspapers get involved so be careful what you read and hear on that day! In Scotland, if someone plays a trick on you, you are called an ‘April Gowk’. A Gowk is the name for a cuckoo, or foolish person in Scotland.
In France, the day is called ‘Poisson d’Avril’ (say: pwass-on dav-rill) meaning ‘April Fish’ because on this day children stick paper fish to the backs of adults and run away laughing.
Watch the Time…In many areas, if you try to play a trick after midday, then you become the fool. If you are fooled after noon, you can say:
“April Fools’ has passed and gone, you are the fool and I am none.”
Famous April Fools’ Day Tricks• In 1998, a burger company advertised new ‘left-handed’ burgers.
Thousands of people visited the shops trying to buy them.
• In 1957, even the BBC got involved with a short fake film about spaghetti trees in Italy. Many people believed that spaghetti grew on trees and wanted to know how to grow them at home. The reply was: “Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”
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Questions1. What is another name for ‘April Fools’ Day’?
2. What happened in 1582?
3. Why were people celebrating New Year on the 1st April?
4. The author writes about ‘Hilaria’. Tick which describes ‘Hilaria’ the best:
Tick one:
The name of a Roman Emperor
A Roman city
Roman spring festivals
A Roman summer festival
5. In what country is ‘Poisson D’Avril’ celebrated?
6. Can you really buy left-handed burgers? Give a reason for your answer.
7. What could you say to someone who tried to play a trick on you after midday on 1st April?
8. Give one reason why you think the BBC fake film on spaghetti trees was so successful?
April Fools’ Day
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Answers1. What is another name for ‘April Fools’ Day’?
Another name for April Fools’ Day is ‘All Fools’ Day’.
2. What happened in 1582? In 1582, the calendar we use today was introduced.
3. Why were people celebrating New Year on the 1st April? People were celebrating New Year on 1st April because before the calendar change, this is where New Year used to be.
4. The author writes about ‘Hilaria’. Tick which describes ‘Hilaria’ the best:
Roman spring festivals
5. In what country is ‘Poisson d’Avril’ celebrated? Poisson d’Avril is celebrated in France.
6. Can you really buy left-handed burgers? Give a reason for your answer. No, you cannot buy left-handed burgers because it is in the text as an April Fool prank and that means that it a trick and therefore not real.
7. What could you say to someone who tried to play a trick on you after midday on 1st April? If someone tried to trick me after midday on April 1st I might say, “April Fools’ has passed and gone, you are the fool and I am none.”
8. Give one reason why you think the BBC fake film on spaghetti trees was so successful? An open-ended question and a good opportunity to watch the video on the internet and discuss why it was so successful.
Reasons can include:
• Made by the trusted BBC
• People weren’t as used to pranks at that time.
• Looked and sounded like a serious documentary
• Spaghetti was still quite new to people in the UK in the 1950s so people knew less about how it was made.
• Showed footage of people actually picking spaghetti and it hanging on trees.
• In the 1950s fewer people in the UK will have visited Italy.
April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ DayApril Fools’ Day – or ‘All Fools’ Day’ falls annually on the 1st of April and is a time for playing practical jokes on others for fun.
When Did It Start?No one really knows for sure when it began, but most think that it started in the late 1500s when the calendar we use today (The Gregorian calendar) was introduced. Some people didn’t get the message and were still celebrating New Year on the 1st of April, which is when it used to be. Therefore, some people thought they were foolish.
There are also clues in a famous book called ‘The Canterbury Tales’ that it could have started in the late 1300s. Others think that it could go back even further as the ancient Romans held spring festivals called ‘Hilaria’ around that time too; full of merriment at the spring equinox.
What Happens on April Fools’ Day?April Fools’ Day is a fun time when harmless, but amusing tricks are played on others. Even the television and newspapers get involved so be careful what you read and hear on that day! In Scotland, the victim of a trick is called an ‘April Gowk’. A Gowk is the name for a cuckoo, or foolish person in Scotland.
In France, the day is called ‘Poisson d’Avril’ (say: pwass-on dav-rill) meaning ‘April Fish’ because on this day people (usually children) stick paper fish to the backs of others (usually adults), so they can walk around looking silly without even knowing.
Watch the Time…
In many areas, if you try to play a trick after midday, then you become the fool. If you are fooled after noon, you can say:
“April Fools’ has passed and gone, you are the fool and I am none.”
Famous April Fools’ Day Tricks• In 1998, a burger company advertised new ‘left-handed’
burgers. Thousands of people visited the shops trying to buy them, some even wanted right-handed ones!
• In 1957, even the BBC got involved with a short, spoof documentary about spaghetti trees in Italy. Many people believed it and wanted to know how to grow them at home. The reply was: “Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”
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Questions1. What is an alternative name for ‘April Fools’ Day’?
2. What is the name of the calendar system we use in the UK?
3. Why were people celebrating New Year on the 1st April?
4. Name one other possible origin of April Fools’ Day earlier than the 1500s?
5. What does the Scottish word ‘Gowk’ mean?
6. The author uses the phrase: “sprig of spaghetti”
Which word most closely matches the word sprig?
Tick one:
offshoot
bush
plant
flower
7. Who usually has fish stuck to their backs on April Fools’ Day in France and who will have
put them there?
April Fools’ Day
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8. Can you really buy left-handed burgers? Give a reason for your answer.
9. What might someone say to you if you tried to play a trick on them in the afternoon of the
1st of April?
10. Give two reasons why you think the BBC spoof documentary on spaghetti trees was such a
successful prank?
April Fools’ Day
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Answers1. What is an alternative name for ‘April Fools’ Day’?
An alternative name for April Fools’ Day is ‘All Fools’ Day’.
2. What is the name of the calendar system we use in the UK? The name of the calendar system we use in the UK is the Gregorian calendar.
3. Why were people celebrating New Year on the 1st April? People were celebrating New Year on 1st April because before the calendar change, this is where New Year used to be.
4. Name one other possible origins of April Fools’ Day are earlier than the 1500s? One possible origin of April Fools’ Day is:
(either from)
• the book ‘The Canterbury Tales’
• the Roman festivals of ‘Hilaria’.
5. What does the Scottish word ‘Gowk’ mean? A ‘Gowk’ is a cuckoo or a foolish person.
6. The author uses the phrase: “sprig of spaghetti”
Which word most closely matches the word sprig?
offshoot
7. Who usually has fish stuck to their backs on April Fools’ Day in France and who will have
put them there?
Adults will have fish stuck to their backs on April Fools’ Day in
France. They will have been stuck there by children.
8. Can you really buy left-handed burgers? Give a reason for your answer. No, you cannot buy left-handed burgers because it is in the text as an April Fool prank and that means that it is a trick and therefore not real.
9. What might someone say to you if you tried to play a trick on them in the afternoon of the 1st of April? In the afternoon on the 1st of April, if you play a trick on someone they might say, “April Fools’ has passed and gone, you are the fool and I am none.”
April Fools’ Day
10. Give two reasons why you think the BBC spoof documentary on spaghetti trees was such a successful prank? An open-ended question and a good opportunity to watch the video on the Internet and discuss why it was so successful.
Reasons can include:
• Made by the trusted BBC
• People weren’t as used to pranks at that time.
• Looked and sounded like a serious documentary
• Spaghetti was still quite new to people in the UK in the 1950s so people knew less about how it was made.
• Showed footage of people actually picking spaghetti and it hanging on trees.
• In the 1950s fewer people in the UK will have visited Italy.
April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ DayApril Fools’ Day – or ‘All Fools’ Day’ falls annually on the first of April and is a time for playing practical jokes and hoaxes for fun.
The OriginsAs with many long-standing traditions, no one really knows for sure how it began. Popular thinking is that it started in the mid-1500s when the Gregorian calendar (the one we use today) was introduced - some people did not get the message and were still celebrating the New Year on the first of April which is when it was previously.
There are also clues that it could have started in the late fourteenth century from a book called ‘The Canterbury Tales’. Others think that it could go back even further as the ancient Romans held spring festivals called ‘Hilaria’ around that time too, full of merriment at the spring equinox.
TraditionsApril Fools’ Day in the UK is a fun time when harmless, but amusing tricks are played on others. Even the television and newspapers get involved so be careful what you read and hear on that day! In Scotland, the victim of a trick is called an ‘April Gowk’. A Gowk is a cuckoo, or foolish person and April the first is known as ‘Hunt the Gowk Day’
In France, the day is called ‘Poisson d’Avril’ meaning ‘April Fish’ because on this day children play tricks on adults by sticking paper fish to their backs and running away shouting ‘Poisson d’Avril’.
Be Mindful of the Time…Tradition states, in many areas, that if you try to play a trick after twelve noon, then you become the fool. If you are fooled after noon, the saying goes:
“April Fools’ has passed and gone, you are the fool and I am none.”
Famous April Fools’ Day Tricks• In 1998, a fast food chain claimed
to be selling new ‘left-handed’ burgers. Thousands of people visited the outlets trying to obtain them.
• In 1978, in Sydney, Australia, a local businessman towed into the harbour what he said was an iceberg all the way from Antarctica. It turned out to be a model.
• 1957 saw one of the most famous public pranks by the BBC in a short ‘mockumentary’ about spaghetti trees in Italy. Many people were taken in by the joke and wanted to know how to grow them at home, to which the reply was: “Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”
Page 1 of 3
Questions1. What is an alternative name for ‘April Fools’ Day’?
2. What is the name of the calendar system we use in the UK and in which century was it
introduced?
3. Copy part of the text that shows that New Year’s Day has not always been on the 1st of
January.
4. Which two other possible origins of April Fools’ Day are earlier than the 1500s?
5. What is a ‘Gowk’ and from which country is the word?
6. The author uses the phrase: “trying to obtain them”
Which word most closely matches the word obtain?
Tick one:
lose
distribute
give
acquire
April Fools’ Day
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7. The author uses the word ‘mockumentary’ which is a portmanteau (two words joined
together). Which two words does it blend and what does ‘mockumentary’ mean?
8. Look at the title of the fact file – is the day a celebration of one fool or many fools? Say
how you know.
9. Look at the name of the Roman spring festivals mentioned in the text. Spot any links
between this name and links to April Fools’ Day.
10. Give three reasons why you think the BBC mockumentary on spaghetti trees was such a
successful prank?
April Fools’ Day
Page 2 of 3
Answers1. What is an alternative name for ‘April Fools’ Day’?
An alternative name for April Fools’ Day is ‘All Fools’ Day’.
2. What is the name of the calendar system we use in the UK and in which century was it introduced? The name of the calendar system we use in the UK is the Gregorian calendar and it was introduced in the 16th Century.
3. Copy part of the text that shows that New Year’s Day has not always been on the 1st of January. “…the new year on the first of April which is when it was previously.”
4. Which two other possible origins of April Fools’ Day are earlier than the 1500s? Two other possible origins of April Fools’ Day are the book ‘The Canterbury Tales’ and the Roman festivals of ‘Hilaria’.
5. What is a ‘Gowk’ and from which country is the word? A ‘Gowk’ is a cuckoo or a foolish person and the word is from Scotland.
6. The author uses the phrase: “trying to obtain them”
Which word most closely matches the word obtain?
acquire
7. The author uses the word ‘mockumentary’ which is a portmanteau (two words joined
together). Which two words does it blend?
The word ‘mockumentary’ is a portmanteau of the words ‘mock’ and
‘documentary’ meaning a fake/fictional documentary meant to look serious.
8. Look at the title of the fact file – is the day a celebration of one fool or many fools? Say how you know. The title shows that it is a celebration of many fools because the apostrophe is after the ‘s’ on the word ‘fools’.
9. Look at the name of the Roman spring festivals mentioned in the text. Spot any links between this name and links to April Fools’ Day. The name of the Roman festivals is ‘Hilaria’ and this sounds and looks like the word ‘hilarious’ or ‘hilarity’ which means funny. This could be why people think they are linked.
April Fools’ Day
10. Give three reasons why you think the BBC mockumentary on spaghetti trees was such a successful prank? An open-ended question and a good opportunity to watch the video on the Internet and discuss why it was so successful.
Reasons can include:
• Made by the trusted BBC
• People weren’t as used to pranks at that time.
• Looked and sounded like a serious documentary
• Spaghetti was still quite new to people in the UK in the 1950s so people knew less about how it was made.
• Showed footage of people actually picking spaghetti and it hanging on trees.
• In the 1950s fewer people in the UK will have visited Italy.
April Fools’ Day
