All Fools Day...April Fools Day...April 1, 2010

Today Sal received a great email.
 An email typical of many that are flying the web as this is typed, I suspect
 An email reflecting the joke Du Jour`

But before sharing that email with you;
did a Google search on the Origin of:
the joke is on me now;
the article chosen [they were legion] was one from MTV news staff
if you knew anything about me, you know that MTV is NOT my choice of news [or ever viewed]

When the Gregorian calendar supplanted the Julian; the New Year was switched to 1 January;
prior to adopting the Gregorian calendar, the new year started after Holy Week/ Vernal Equinox, et all that was normally centered around 25 March to 31 March thus making 1 April the start of a New year.
Many historians would have us believe that the 'pranking' that took place was started in France. The traditionalists-who refused to celebrate the New Year on 1 January-continued to use 1 April to welcome the New Year.  Their refusal to adjust resulted in the mocking term of 'fool'.
The tradition of 'pranks' on April 1 grew throughout Europe as "All Fools Day". [Aren't we all--at times]

Pranks on April 1, have an historical reference in all the 'findings on google':
...see: www.snopes.com/holidays/aprilfools/origins.asp
...see: www.mtv.com/news/articles/1635223/2010331/story.jhtml
Fun and interesting reading.

Some other origins:
... point to the arrival of spring weather; here Mother Nature 'fools' humans with fickle changes in weather.
    spring weather ranges from rain to snow, cool or cold to hot and humid.     
...tie in to the Roman's end-of-winter celebration, Hilaria
...the end of the Celtic new year festival.
...the tricking of another to a 'fruitless search' with an impossible resolution of a non-existent item

Whatever you choose to believe, have a fun day

The EMAIL:
  ....there will be random testing of all Real Estate Agents for Illegal Drugs & Prescription Drug Usage
  ....for Macomb County agents, the start day is 1 April 2010
  ....for further questions--contact Mr Fox at the Detroit Zoo

the above is paraphrased, but the message is the same: a 'GOTCHA' from our Broker at KW. Lakeside
Market Center
Good one ; good one!