April Fool's Day / It Started with the Catholic Church

        Have you ever felt that winter was too long and that the calendar was out of sync?  Pope Gregory XIII  did.      He didn't like the Julian Calendar used in his day so he asked his papal astronmers to create a new system that would  put Easter close to the spring eqinox so that there would be more house of sunlight for celebrations.   On February 24, 1582, he  issued a papal bull declaring that everyone must follow the resulting new calendar that became known as the Gregorian Calendar.  

      As you might imagine, problems occurred when Pope Gregory XIII's new calendar changed everyone's schedules.  On the Jiulian Calendar that had been used for centuries, the new year began on April 1.     Pope Gregory XIII , however, said that January 1 would henceforth  be New Year's Day.

      Faithful Catholics moved their new year celebrations from April 1 to January 1 but rebels refused to accept the change and continued to have boisterous parties on April 1.  They were soon called April Fools for celebrating the new year on the wrong day.  

            Perhaps there is room in the calendar for two celebrations.    Each January 1 we can reflect on our Christmas experiences and prepare for a quiet winter of peace.  When April 1 arrives we canrejoice in Easter celebrations and the promise of spring and summer.  

  To learn more about the Catholic calendar and other Catholic influences read, Catholicism Everywhere: From Hail Mary Passes to Cappuccinos: How the Catholic Faith Is Infused in Culture by Dr. Helen Hoffner.  

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