April 1st

Today, April Fools' Day has spread around the world, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of friends and families:

• United States - Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April.  One common trick is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied."
• France - French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their backs.  When the young victim discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d'Avril!" (April Fish!)
• England - Tricks can be played only in the morning. If a trick is played on you, you are a "noodle".
• Scotland - April Fools' Day is actually celebrated for two days and the custom is known as "hunting the gowk" (the cuckoo), and April fools are "April gowks".  The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body.  It is called Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me" sign can be traced to this observance.
• Mexico – the counterpart of April Fools' Day is actually observed on December 28.  Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod.  It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.
• Portugal - April Fools' is celebrated on the Sunday and Monday before Lent.  The traditional trick there is to throw flour at your friends.
• Russia - In Russia it's the first day of the fourth term at school. Do you really think it's a good joke?
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Yours Irina Dmitrievna