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April Fools Day
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April Fools Day ... called ALL FOOLS Day, first day of April, named from the custom of playing practical jokes or sending friends on fools errands on that date. Although it has been observed for centuries in several countries, the origin of the custom is unknown.
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April Fools Day starts with a group of college students that have been invited to a weekend gathering to celebrate there final year at school. The invitation comes from a fellow classmate and heiress Muffy St. John (Deborah Foreman) and the festivities will take place on Muffy’s family’s summer island mansion that is only accessible by ferry.
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In England, the April Fools Day began to be celebrated from the 18th century. In Scotland, the custom of harassing friends is known as ‘hunting the gawk’ or the cuckoo. In France, this is known as poisson d'avril. The zodiac sign for April is a ‘Fish’, and is believed to be caught easily.
Oddly, The New York Times had only one report on previous April Fools' Day parades, according to Judy Tong, news assistant with the Times. The report was dated 1987. The story featured a person who said he had come in costume for the inaugural parade - and found himself the only person there.
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Joey Skaggs announced that New York City’s annual April Fools’ Day parade would once again be held, beginning at 12 noon at 59th Street and marching down Fifth Avenue to Washington Square Park. Because of the terrorist threat, security was expected to be much tighter at this year’s parade. Floats would include the Atlanta Airport Security Float featuring Michael Lasseter running down an up escalator. There would ... be a George W. Bush look-alike handing out pretzels to the crowd. Public relations for the parade were being handled by the Pentagon Propaganda Unit. Unfortunately, CNN and Fox News did not send news crews to film the parade as they did back in 2000.
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As holidays go, April Fools' Day is strictly second-string. No one gets a day off. No one sends flowers or cards. There are no flags to fly or decorations to put up or special foods to serve. No one even gives a speech.
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April Fools Day