April fools and the Sabine virgins

1 April · England

Lore and belief

England

One explanation of April fooling traced it to a trick played by the Romans on the Sabines. Romulus proclaimed games in honour of Neptune at the beginning of April, and when the neighbouring families flocked to Rome to watch, the Romans seized the Sabine women. Taylor gave this, after Dionysius, as the supposed foundation of what he called an absurd custom.

Romulus instituted certain games to be performed in the beginning of April (according to the Roman Calendar) in honour of Neptune.

From Taylor's Antiquitates Curiosae, 2nd ed., p. 21. Read the original

Get a copy: Amazon · Bookshop.org · AbeBooks

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links.

Also on this day

Folklore from the old calendars

Hunting the gowk Still kept ScotlandIn Scotland April fooling went further than in England.
Washing the lions No longer kept LondonIn March 1860 a great many people received through the post an official-looking card inviting them to the Tower of London to see the annual washing of the white lions on Sunday 1 April.
Sleeveless errands on All Fools’ Day Still kept EnglandChambers found the first of April given over to harmless tricks on unsuspecting neighbours, mostly by the young.
Ah, you April fool! Still kept EnglandHone traced how the April fool's street trick changed with fashion.
A cold April the barn will fill Lore and belief EnglandOpening his April, Chambers observed that proverbial wisdom took a kindly view of the month.
Oil of hazel on All Fools’ Day No longer kept County DurhamAs a boy in Durham, Henderson was sent on 1 April to the chemist for a pennyworth of oil of hazel, and got it from the hazel stick kept behind the counter.

April fools and the Sabine virgins

Also on this day

Questions and comments

Image credits