Fool’s day

“The landlord has just closed our house” a seven words text message from his wife left James Buhija puzzled. He had already paid rent and hence he couldn’t figure out why their landlord would do such a thing. He anxiously called his wife and was surprised by how calm she sounded. “She let out a heart laugh and pronounced me fooled, as she shouted April fools!” James recalls. Fool’s day was foreign to him so he did not take the joke well.As he pointed out “I did not think it was funny, I felt offended since her message really got me worried. But after she explained, I understood.” Many people are like James the fool’s day is just another day. It is just a beginning of the month of April. There are many theories associated with the origin of the day but the most famous one is the French calendar change. In 1564 France introduced the Gregorian calendar moving the start of the year from the end of March to January first. Some people were rebellious and continued to follow the previous calendar this resulted to them being coded “fools”, they were made subject to ridicule and were sent on “fool errands,” They would be sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical small jokes played upon them. Over time a custom of prank-playing developed on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread across the globe. This tradition ushered in the day that we now call April fools day. Different people observe the day differently while others simply ignore its existence. Some people feel offended by the tricks played on this day whereas others embrace the day with all the trickery that comes with it. Joy Mukahindazi enjoys this day more than any other. She enjoys playing planks on her friends who never seem to remember what the day is all about. “Last year I tricked a colleague by telling him that the boss needed to see him immediately. He dashed to the boss’s office only to be met by an equally puzzled secretary. He swore that he would not forgive me but it was still so funny.” Joy says excitedly. For this one day deception is acceptable. Traditionally, no tricks are supposed to be played after 12 noon, though this is not always the case. Caroline Munuhe awoke one morning too late to go to work according to her watch and she remembers calling her boss to explain her lateness. “He didn’t have a clue about what I was talking about, he told me it was still early and I could make it to the office in time. He asked me if I was tricking him. Then it dawned on me that I had been fooled,” she explains. Her roommate called her later to explain her watch prank. “She was laughing the whole time explaining how she had fooled me by setting back my watch. At first it was not funny but later I lightened up to it” says Carol. April Fools’ Day, is an odd celebration, it has odd festivities but those who accept and appreciate it have fun every year as they ‘celebrate’ the day. Holidays are celebrated many reasons. Some honour heroes some commemorate events, on April fools people just get fooled. Email pgathoni@gmail.com

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Fool’s day