April 1 - Sunday
Awakening of the House
April Fool's Day (April Fools' Day)
International Day of Birds
Festival of Tulips in Istanbul
1778 Birthday of the dollar
Many know that on the first of April they do not believe anyone. Where did this proverb come from? After all, any proverb has some kind of foundation. In order to find out, we need to plunge into the past, where the roots of many utterances and sayings hide.
The history of our ancestors has deep pagan roots, echoes of which we can observe today. All in the same proverbs, sayings, beliefs and signs. On April 1, our pagan ancestors celebrated one interesting holiday. Rather, not even a holiday, but a certain milestone.
This day was considered the Day of Wake of the Brownie. The ancient Slavs believed that for the winter he, like many animals and spirits, fell into a hibernation and woke up only occasionally to do the necessary work around the house. He slept at home exactly until the time when spring already fully enters into its rights.
The coming of spring was marked by the spring equinox, and all subsequent days until April 1 were the days of the spring meeting. On the very first day, spring came finally and irrevocably, and the main spirit-keeper of the hearth - the house-spirit - had to wake up to clean up the house.
As you know, when we sleep for a long time, and then wake up at the call of our alarm clock, spouse or mother, we often are unhappy with this. We yawn and grumble why we were woken so early. Small children generally begin to be capricious. And our house has sometimes the habits of a child, and after a long hibernation, he wakes up, too, not very happy. And then he starts to be naughty, and sometimes even hooligan. Then the remains of flour from the bags will be poured out, then the manes will muddle the horses, cows will frighten, the laundry will be dirty ...
Of course, our distant ancestor tried to butter the displeased house-mash, milk and bread, but, as is known, spectacles must necessarily be attached to bread. Such entertainments for the awakened spirit were widespread festivities, jokes, laughter of people in the house, who played each other all day. In addition, to make it more fun for the house-servant, and for everyone around, the inhabitants of the house put their clothes on inside out, like the very spirit of ancestor who, as is known, wears his fur vest with the seams outside. On their feet should have always flaunted different socks or shoes, and in a conversation everyone tried to deceive each other or make a joke so that the owner, the father-in-law, forgot that he had recently woken up.
Over time, about the meeting of spring and cackling the brownie on the first of April forgotten, but the tradition of joking, playing and cheating on this day remained.