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By Carolyne Nakazibwe In the mid-1990s, a front-page story in one of the local dailies left many panicking. Two lions had escaped from the zoo in Entebbe and were causing havoc in the neighbourhood. People had been devoured, crops destroyed, and the rangers' efforts to recapture the beasts were futile.What caused even greater panic was the assertion that the beasts were last seen at Abayita Ababiri, headed for Kampala. Due to the fear this caused, many readers could not read the story to the last sentence, which reminded everyone that this was April Fools' Day. Every year, millions around the world fall victim to these pranks meant in good faith for April 1, recognised worldwide as Fools' Day. According to Internet research, the old calender's New Year used to begin on April 1. However, during the reformation of the calendar, the date for the New Year was moved from April 1 to January 1. Since modern communication was unheard of, news spread slowly. As a result, some people moved on quickly, some ignored the change, while others merely forgot. "This festival ran for a week with the exchange of gifts, and ended with parties on April 1." According to urbanlegends.com, in 1564, King Charles IX decreed that with the adoption of the Gregorian Calender, the New Year be moved to January 1. Those who refused or forgot were sent foolish gifts and invitations to non-existent parties. Like celebrations of the Valentine's Day, Fools' Day started in the West and Africa was fast in catching up and probably overtaking the rest of the world in celebrating it. |
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