愚人節(jié)的含義

　　Ancient cultures, including those of the Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on or around April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year.

　　古代文化，比如古羅馬和印度文化，都在4月1日左右慶祝胡新年。這個日子和春分(3月20日或者21日)很靠近。在中世紀(jì)時期，歐洲大多數(shù)國家在3月25日慶祝“圣母領(lǐng)報”，這一天被看作是新年的第一天。

　　In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.

　　1582年，羅馬教皇格利高里八世創(chuàng)立了羅馬紀(jì)年法，來代替凱撒制定的儒略歷。羅馬紀(jì)年法將1月1日定為新年。人們相信，當(dāng)時有一些人拒絕接受新年歷，或者他們根本不知道新年歷，他們?nèi)匀辉?月1日慶祝新年。另外一些人便開始嘲諷這些堅定的傳統(tǒng)主義者，愚弄他們，差遣他們，或者擾亂他們的知識。最終，這個習(xí)俗傳到了整個歐洲。

　　當(dāng)然這一個起源也有解釋不通的地方，比如英國很晚才開始使用羅馬紀(jì)年法，不可能跟這個愚人節(jié)搭上關(guān)系。雖然沒有定論，但至少，我們知道了愚人節(jié)的英語和愚人節(jié)的含義。