字神帝國英語天地

In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them April fools. In France today, April first is called Poisson d'Avril. French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the young fool discovers this trick, the prankster yells Poisson d'Avril!
✠ 愚人節16 世紀的時候，法國人是在4月1號慶祝新年的。他們那時候過新年的方法和我們現在幾乎一樣，人們設宴、跳舞直到深夜。到了1562年，教皇格裡高利頒佈了基督教新曆，按照新曆，新年這一天改到了1月1號。但是，有些人沒能聽說或者聽說了但不相信新年改天了。他們還是按照老習慣在4月1號這天過年。其他人就拿 他們開玩笑，把他們叫做“愚人”。如今，法國人把愚人節叫做“上鉤的魚”。法國孩子會在朋友的背上貼一條魚，以此來戲弄別人。當那個受騙上當的小朋友發現 以後，開玩笑的人就大叫“上鉤的魚兒”!
　　
Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, Your shoe lace is untied. School children might tell a classmate that school has been cancelled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster yells, April Fool!
✠ 如今，每逢愚人節，不管對方是否相識，美國人都會開些小玩笑。在愚人節比較常見的把戲是指著別人的鞋子說：“你鞋帶沒繫。”學生可能會騙同學說學校放假了。不管是什麼樣的招數，只要那個無辜的受害者中技了，惡作劇的人就會尖叫：“愚人!”

Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool joke is the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played. American humorist Mark Twain has said that the first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year。
✠ 愚人節開的玩笑基本都是挺逗人的，沒什麼惡意。最高明的愚人節玩笑能讓在場的每個人都捧腹大笑，即使是那個被作弄的人也會忍俊不禁。正如美國幽默作家馬克吐溫所說的“只有在四月的第一天，我們才記起在過去一年的364天中我們是多麼的愚蠢”。
　　
Other people say it's just a continuation of a festival in honor of the Celtic god of Mirth but most popular belief is that it's a reaction to the change in season and the start of spring. Whatever its origin, making fools of people on this day remains one of the most flourishing of all British customs。
✠ 另一種說法認為，愚人節只是為了向凱爾特的歡樂之神致敬而流傳下來的一個節日。不過，大多數人相信，愚人節標誌著季節的變化和春天的來臨。不管起源如何，愚人節當天的愚人活動已經成了一項盛行於英國的風俗了。

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. The origin of the "kick me" sign can be traced to this observance。
✠ 在蘇格蘭，人們會用兩天時間慶祝愚人節。第二天是專門讓人們去捉弄別人的，你可以在這一天去踢別人的屁股。這天被稱為“續愚人節”，而在別人後背上貼上“踢我”的標籤就起源於此。

文章來源：愚人節到底是怎麼來的呢？