Who is the Fool on April 1?

Today is April Fools’ Day, a day well known in the western world for pranks and the introduction of fictional stories. Curious about this day’s history, I did a quick search on the Internet and was reminded of a number of wild, preposterous stories told on this day to confuse and hopefully, to later amuse those gullible enough to believe.

According to Perkiomen Valley Patch, two of the best known hoaxes on this day were pulled off by the BBC in the United Kingdom and by Taco Bell in the United States.

"The Spaghetti Harvest- On April 1, 1957, the BBC announced on a popular news show that Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper crop of spaghetti- thanks to the annihilation of the spaghetti weevil. Women were shown plucking the spaghetti from trees and laying the strands out to dry. Many viewers called the station to find out how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. BBC phone operators eventually came up with a standard answer: 'Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.'

"Taco Liberty Bell- Taco Bell announced on April 1, 1996, that it had purchased the Liberty Bell. They claimed they were renaming it the 'Taco Liberty Bell' and that the bell would spend part of the year in Philadelphia and part of the year at the Taco Bell Headquarters in Irvine. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia to express their anger. Taco Bell later released a statement alerting the public that it was a joke."

While everyone can enjoy a light-hearted moment infused with creative humor, not many realize that this day is also associated with the beginning of the new year.

Instructing Moses and the ancient Israelites on the calendar they would use to observe His holy days, God said, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exodus 12:2). Adam Clarke in his commentary explains that the Israelites “had hitherto begun their year from the middle of September, but henceforward they were to begin it from the middle of March, at least in all their ecclesiastical computations.”

Due to differences between the sacred calendar and the Gregorian calendar in use today, the beginning of the sacred calendar fluctuates between the middle of March and the first part of April. The first day of the sacred calendar for this upcoming year is April 5 (see Holy Day Calendar).

Similar to the biblical calendar, many nations and cultures likewise began their calendars around this time of year. As Infoplease notes: “Ancient cultures, including those of the Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on or around April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year.”

In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII instituted a new calendar—the Gregorian Calendar—that called for celebrations of the new year on January 1. “According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on ‘fool's errands’ or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe” (ibid.).

Whether this popular explanation is accurate or not, most of the world now recognizes and celebrates the beginning of the year on January 1. Very few hold on to the idea that now is when the new year begins.

As for me, I’m a “traditionalist.” I enjoy humor and I love a good, creative story. But I also observe God’s festivals and recognize the beginning of God’s sacred year at this time of year. Does that make me a fool?

On the other hand, ancient King David wrote: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God” (Psalm 14:1-2).

So who is the fool on April 1?

  

 David Treybig pastors the St. Petersburg, Florida, congregation and serves as the Web Content Manager for the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.