愚人节的前世今生

北外网院

Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays， the history of（1）April Fools Day，sometimes called All Fools Day，is not totally clear. There really wasnt a “first April Fools Day” that can be（2）pinpointed on the calendar. Some believe it（3）sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time， from celebrations involving the first day of spring.

（1）April fool：愚人节当天受愚弄的人，中文多译为“四月傻瓜”。

（2）pinpoint：确定……的位置（性质、原因等），确认。没有人能够在日历上准确标出第一个愚人节，即没有人知道第一个愚人节是什么时候开始的。

（3）sort of：（口）近似，有那么点。有些人认为它可能是同时从几种文化演变而来的，源自与春季第一天有关的庆祝活动。

The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582，in France.（4）Prior to that year，the new year was celebrated for eight days，beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under（5）Charles IX，the Gregorian Calendar was introduced，and New Years Day was moved to January 1.

（4）prior to：在……之前。

（5）Charles IX：查理九世，法兰西国王（1560～1574）；Gregorian Calendar：格列高利历，即目前全世界通用的阳历。查理九世在位期间进行了历法改革，引进了阳历，并把新年第一天移至1月1日。

（6）However， communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot，many people did not receive the news for several years. Others，（7）the more obstinate crowd，refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April. These backward folk were labeled as “fools”by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule， and were often sent on “fools errands”or were made the（8）butt of other practical jokes.

（6）然而，在那个消息还要靠徒步旅行传播的年代，有许多人过了好几年后才得知这个消息。

（7）一帮冥顽不化的家伙拒绝接受新历法，依旧在4月1日这天庆祝新年。

（8）butt：（嘲弄等的）对象，笑柄；practical joke：恶作剧。他们受到嘲笑，并且经常被派去做只有笨蛋才做的差事或者成为恶作剧的对象。

This harassment evolved，over time，into a tradition of（9）prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fools Day thus developed into an international fun（10）feast，so to speak，with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.

（9）prank：胡闹，恶作剧。这种折磨人的行为随着时间慢慢演变成在4月的第一天搞恶作剧的传统。

（10） feast：节日，盛宴。

Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fools Day. Sometimes， elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last the entire day. The news media even gets involved. April Fools Day is a“for-fun-only”observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their（11）“significant other” out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. Its simply a fun little holiday，but a holiday on which one must remain forever（12）vigilant，for he may be the next April Fool！

（11）significant other：伴侣。

（12）vigilant：警觉的，警惕的。endprint