We love the beginning of April not just because it’s the midpoint of spring, but also because April Fools’ Day makes us smile and laugh. When in Britain, we all look forward to spoof newspaper headlines and hoax news reports.
Did you know that April 1st is also popular around the world? Since our 24-hour Companions are International, it might be fun to tell you about how April Fools’ Day is celebrated in some of the countries our girls come from. Read on to find out the surprising history of the most amusing day of the year.
France
April Fools’ Day began life in medieval France. Until the middle of the 16th century, each calendar year started on April 1st. However, when King Charles I of France announced that the year would begin on January 1st, many people refused to comply. Supporters of the king then started playing pranks on those who continued to celebrate April 1st 1st. Since the day occurred during Lent when fish was preferred over meat, the jokes often involved fake fish, and this tradition still holds today. The French still honour the tradition of Poisson d’Avril, where pranksters tape a paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting victims, who then become known as the April Fish.
Brazil
Many of our escorts are Brazilian, and these girls also celebrate April Fools’ Day, known as o dia das mentiras, which translates to the day of lies. These Latin folk love fun and games, and this day is the day to play pranks. Like in the UK, newspapers run spoof stories that no one takes too seriously. A satirical publication called Mentiras became famous in 19th-century Brazil for publishing articles such as this, including a story about the death of Emperor Pedro. After facing financial difficulties, it published a final edition stating the address where creditors could retrieve their money. Naturally, this address was also a hoax.
Scotland
The Scots are known for their dry wit and sarcastic sense of humour, so it should be no surprise that they have embraced April Fools’ Day with great relish, so much so that many extend it to April 2nd, too. The first is Hunt the Gowk (cuckoo) day, when people like to play tricks on each other. In particular, these humorous Scots enjoy sending their friends on a fool’s errand. Examples include asking someone to deliver a sealed message asking for help, the contents of which instruct the recipient to pass it along and continue the chain. On the second day, they stick signs to people’s backs, leading them to kick the person who has the sign.
Persia
Although April Fools’ Day has been celebrated in the West since the Middle Ages, it is interesting to note that the Persians have been marking the occasion since at least 536 BC, with pranks and practical jokes being integral to the festivities. The Persians have traditionally seen April 1st as the start of the New Year, and they still do. It is common to spend the day outdoors, celebrating the new year and indulging in food, laughter, and good-natured jokes. After their picnic, Iranians worldwide discard vegetables, symbolising any potential illnesses or bad luck for the coming year.
We hope you have found this guide to how different countries and cultures celebrate April Fool’s Day as fascinating as we did. If you enjoy a diversity of cultures, we see the best way to learn more about them is to meet with people from these cultures, particularly charming escorts who will go out of their way to help you discover more. With more international ladies than any other escort agency in London, we should be your first choice when seeking beautiful, cultured female companionship in the capital.