April fool's day

Маnу реорlе think Apri1 Fool's Dау is the funniest day оf the year. This holiday originated in France. When the French first adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, some реорlе continued to use the old calendar and celebrated the New Year's Day оn Apri1 1. These реорlе were ea11ed April fools. The custom оf playing tricks оп tl1is day becаmе popular in France and then spread to mаnу other countries. Whatever the trick, if you fа11 for the joke the prankster cries: 'April Fool! Most Apri1 Fool jokes are in good fun and are not meant to offend anyone. Here are some typical jokes: '

- Calling the zoo and asking to speak to

Mr Lion.

- Putting salt in the sugar-bowl.

- Setting the clocks back an hour.

- Saying to а friend, 'Oh ту. You have four big holes in your coat... Buttonholes'.

• Fixing а string to а wa11et and leaving а wa11et in the middle of the street.

• When someone tries to pick it uр, the prankster pulls it out of the reach. Some реорlе though prefer more cruel jokes, which are ea11ed 'practiea1 jokes'. Apri1 Fool's jokes as any other jokes are as humorous or cruel as the реорlе who perform them.

Оn this day of national good humour, television and newspapers join in the fun.

British television оncе told the story of а bui1ding that had bееn bui1t upside-down bу mistake. They showed an ехаmplе of modern architecture which actua11y looked better when it was turned the other way.

Many реорlе must have been fooled, and, perhaps, the architect himself was puzzled.

In а11 countries, in а11 times the best joke has always been the оnе which makes everyone laugh, especially the person оn whom the joke is played. The famous American writer Mark Twain said:

The first of Apri1 is the day when we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.'

April Fool's Quiz

1. When and where did April! Fool's Dау originate?

2. When was the Gregorian calendar adopted?

3. What is 'а practical joke'?

4. Is Apri1 Fool's Dау kept in your country? What are the most typical jokes in your country?

5. If you like Apri1 Fool's Dау, te11 your friends about one оf your favourite April Fool jokes. If you don't quite like the holiday, explain why you fееl this way and te11 your friends about the holiday you like most оf а11

How we kept mother’s day

We decided to have a special celebration of Mother's Day. We thought it a fine idea. It made us realize how much Mother had done for us for years, and all the efforts and sacrifices that she had made for our sake.

So we decided that we'd make it a great day, a holiday for all the family, and do everything we could to make our Mother happy. Father decided to take a holiday from his office, so as to help in celebrating the day and my sister Ann and I stayed home from college classes, and Mary and my brother stayed home from High School. It was our plan to make it a day just like Xmas or any big holiday, and so we decided to decorate the house with flowers. We asked Mother to do it, because she always does it.

The two girls thought it would be a nice thing to dress in our best for such a big occasion, and so they both got new hats. Father had bought silk ties for himself and us boys. We were going to get Mother a new hat too, but it turned out that she liked her old hat better than a new one. After breakfast we decided that we would hire a motorcar and take Mother for a beautiful drive away into the country. Mother is hardly ever able to have a treat like that, because she is busy in the house nearly all the time.

But on the very morning of the day we changed the plan a litter bit. We all felt that it would be nicer to have a definite purpose. It turned out that Father had just got a new rod the day before, and he said that Mother could use it if she wanted to: in fact, he said it was practically for her, only Mother said she would rather watch him than fish herself. So we got everything ready for the trip. Mother cut up some sandwiches and packed all up in basket for us.

When the car came to the door, it turned out that we couldn't all get in. Father said that he could stay at home and work in the garden. There was a lot of dirty work that he could do. He said that he wanted us to be happy and have a big day. The girl said that Mother had only to say the word and they'd gladly stay at home and work.

In the end it was decided that Mother would stay at home and have a lovely restful day round the house. It turned out anyway that Mother didn't care for fishing and also it was just a little bit cold and fresh out-of-doors, though it was lovely and sunny, and Father was afraid that Mother might take cold if she came.

So we all drove away and Mother stood and watched us as long as she could see us. We had the loveliest day. Father and the boys fished, the girl met quite a lot of people. We all had a splendid time.

It was quite late when we got back. The dinner was ready. It was grand. Mother had to get up and down during the meal fetching things back and forward, but at the end Father noticed it and said she simply mustn't do it.

When the dinner was over all of us wanted to help clear the things up and wash the dishes, only Mother said that she would really much rather do it.

It was quite late when it was all over, and when we all kissed Mother before going to bed, she said it had been the most wonderful day in her life and I think were tears in her eyes.