ALL FOOLS DAY

Tuesday, April fool’s Day, sometimes called All Fools Day is one of the most light hearted days of the year.
The origins of April Fools’ Day were provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.
April fool, Joseph Boskin, totally made this up.

The exact origins are still unknown.

My friend Wally played a funny prank on one of our fellow co-workers a few years ago when we worked together at the B&N (I won’t get sued, will I?) Astor Place store. We worked with Dave, an over zealous over achiever, competitive I have been working out so much; all of my shirts are tight type guy. Needless to say, Dave did not have many friends at the store.
Wally and Dave were both scheduled to work the first floor information desk, on All Fool’s Day and Dave being the competitive guy he was would try to help every person who walked in. Wally had had enough of Dave, and decided to prank him. Wally told Dave a customer had called and was looking for a particular book, which the customer would be coming in to pick up shortly. Wally told Dave the store was currently out of stock; however the Strand Bookstore had several copies. He suggested to Dave, that he should run out to the Strand, about 4 blocks away and pick up the book. Immediately ever eager Dave quickly dashed out of the door off to the Strand bookstore. Wally called the Strand Bookstore and informed them, that Dave, would soon be in asking for a book, and they should tell him it was an April Fool’s Day joke, which they did. I could only imagine how embarrassed, upset and angry Dave was. A red faced Dave returned to the store and refused to speak to anyone for the rest of the day.
Wally still laughs hysterically when he tells that story, and Dave resigned a few weeks later.

Currently reading or still reading, the Complete Stories by Zora Neale Hurston