每年的4月1日,是西方許多國(guó)家的人們最開心的日子之一,因?yàn)檫@一天是聞名世界的“愚人節(jié)”。這一天,人們盡可以發(fā)揮自己豐富的想象力,哄騙、取笑、愚弄?jiǎng)e人。而且,不管這樣做之后出現(xiàn)什么樣的后果,人們也不負(fù)任何法律責(zé)任。現(xiàn)在這一節(jié)日也開始在我們中國(guó)流行。
愚人節(jié)來(lái)歷
April Fools' Day is a day to play jokes on others. No one knows how this holiday began but people think it first started in France.
In the 16th century, people celebrated New Year's Day from March 25 to April 1. In the mid—1560s King Charles IX changed it from March 25 to January 1. But some people still celebrated in on April 1, so others called them April Fools.
Each country celebrates April Fools' Day differently. In France, people call the April Fools "April Fish". They tape a paper fish to their friends' backs to fool them. When he or she finds this, they shout "April Fish!"
In England, people play jokes only in the morning. You are a "noodle" if someone fools you. In Scotland, April Fools' Day is 48 hours long. They call an April Fool "April Gowk". Gowk is another name for a cuckoo bird.
In the America, people play small jokes on their friends and any other people on the first of April. They may point down to your shoe and say, "Your shoelace is untied." If you believe them and look down to see, you are an April Fool then.
愚人節(jié)又稱萬(wàn)愚節(jié),已經(jīng)有幾百年的歷史了。關(guān)于節(jié)日的起源,眾說(shuō)紛紜。其中最為流行的說(shuō)法認(rèn)為愚人節(jié)起源于法國(guó)。
十六世紀(jì)的法國(guó),人們?cè)?月1日這天過(guò)新年,互贈(zèng)禮物,舉辦晚會(huì),慶祝新年。當(dāng)時(shí)的慶祝方法與現(xiàn)在相差無(wú)幾。1582年,法國(guó)國(guó)王查理九世決定采用一種新的歷法——格高利歷法,新年改在1月1日。在新歷法的推行過(guò)程中,各地仍有一些人或是不原意接受新歷法,或是不知道這一日期的更改,仍然在4月1日這天過(guò)新年。其他的人便捉弄他們,贈(zèng)送他們假禮物,邀請(qǐng)他們參加假慶祝晚會(huì),騙他們?nèi)ヅ芡?,或使他們?duì)某種根本不存在的事情信以為真。這些受騙的人被稱為“四月愚人”。
從此,人們?cè)?月1日這一天便互相愚弄,日久天長(zhǎng),便成為法國(guó)流行的風(fēng)俗。十八世紀(jì)初,“愚人節(jié)”的習(xí)俗傳到英國(guó)。后來(lái),隨著英國(guó)移民又傳到了美國(guó)。隨著時(shí)間的流逝,這一習(xí)俗已經(jīng)成為國(guó)際性節(jié)日,在歐洲、北美許多國(guó)家都流行。這一天,人們可以不拘一格地“輕松”一下。當(dāng)然愚弄人的手法也是花樣百出。
關(guān)于受愚弄的人,在不同的國(guó)家給予不同的稱呼。大部分人都稱他們?yōu)椤八脑掠奕恕薄5袝r(shí),有的國(guó)家也有其他的稱呼。在法國(guó)人們把上當(dāng)者稱為“四月魚”,可能是因?yàn)樗脑吕?,魚最容易上鉤的緣故吧;而在英國(guó)的蘇格蘭,則稱為“布谷鳥”,可能是指一只呆鳥吧。
同時(shí),有的國(guó)家雖然不過(guò)“愚人節(jié)”,但也有類似的節(jié)日。在羅馬,曾有“嬉樂(lè)節(jié)”,在3月25日。而印度有“歡悅節(jié)”,在3月31日。這些節(jié)日和愚人節(jié)類似。有趣的是,這些節(jié)日都在春天,所以,有人說(shuō)這些節(jié)日與“春分”有關(guān),因?yàn)檫@時(shí)的天氣變化無(wú)常,讓人琢磨不透,有些捉弄人的感覺。墨西哥也有“愚人節(jié)”,不過(guò)是在12月18日。
愚人節(jié)英語(yǔ)笑話
1. Why are people tired on April Fools' Day? 愚人節(jié)人們?yōu)槭裁雌>?
答:Because they have just had a long March. 因?yàn)樗麄儎傔^(guò)了長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的三月。(March在這里指“行軍”)
2.What weather do mice and rats fear? 老鼠害怕什么天氣?
答:When it's raining cats and dogs.下大雨。(rain cats and dogs 下大雨)
3.When do dogs refuse to follow their masters? 狗什么時(shí)候不愿跟隨主人?
答:When their masters go to the flea market.主人去跳蚤市場(chǎng)時(shí)。(flea market 舊貨市場(chǎng))
4.What question can never be answered by "yes"? 哪個(gè)問(wèn)題永遠(yuǎn)不能回答“是的”?
答:Are you asleep? 你睡著了嗎?
5.What tree is always very sad? 哪種樹總是很傷心?
答:Weeping willow. 垂柳 (weep哭泣 willow柳樹)
6.When can you get water with a net? 什么時(shí)候可以用網(wǎng)兜裝水?
答:When water is turned into ice. 當(dāng)水結(jié)成冰時(shí)。
7.Why is the pig always eating? 豬為什么沒完沒了地吃?
答:He's making a hog of himself.它想成為一只肉豬。
8.What's the longest word in the world? 世界上最長(zhǎng)的單詞是什么?
答:Smiles. Because there's a mile between the letter "s".微笑。因?yàn)閮蓚€(gè)字母S中間隔了一英里。
9.What question is that to which you must always answer "yes"? 什么問(wèn)題你只能回答“yes”?
答:"What does y-e-s spell?" (當(dāng)別人問(wèn)你)“yes”怎么拼?
10.Where were you when the power was cut off? 停電的時(shí)候你在哪?
答:In the darkness. 在黑暗中。