趣味英语：愚人节你被“愚”了吗？

      

    Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays, the history of (1)April Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed on the calendar(2). Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring(3).

    1 April fool：愚人节时受愚弄的人，中文多译作“四月傻瓜”。

    2 没有人能够在日历上准确地标出第一个愚人节的位置，即“没有人知道第一个愚人节是什么时候开始的。”pinpoint：精确地确定......的位置(性质、原因等)，确认。

    3 有些人认为它可能是同时从几种文化演变而来的，源自与春季第一天有关的庆祝活动。sort of:(口)近似，有那么点儿。

    The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to (4)that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1(5).

    4 prior to：在......之前

    5 查理九世在位期间进行了历法改革，引进了阳历，并且把新年第一天移至1月1日。Charlex IX：查理九世，法兰西国王[1560-1574]；Gregorian Calendar：格列高利历，即目前全世界通用的阳历。

    However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years(6). Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1(7). These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes(8).

    6 然而，在那个消息还有靠徒步旅行传播的年代里，有许多人过了好几年后才得到这个消息。