Mexico April Fools Day: what is the tragic origin of this celebration and why are jokes being made

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On December 28, the Day of the Holy Innocents is celebrated, better known as the Day of the Innocents and it is a date that brings together two festivities of different origins and purposes.

Despite being a biblical commemoration, Mexicans usually play jokes of all kinds, even on social networks or in local media, in the form of false news

Surely you have fallen into some bad joke on the internet, on WhatsApp, social networks or live that worried you, made you angry or in the best of cases, gave you a lot of laughs, which happened exactly on December 28.

This Tuesday we will have for another year the celebration of the so-called Day of the Holy Innocents, a biblical date that commemorates the assassination of the newborns of Judea murdered by King Herod of Judea.

Day of the Holy Innocents

In the verse Matero 2: 3-8 they write the reaction of King Herod I, “The Great”, who in his eagerness to find Christ, called to be the new king by the prophet, sent the so-called Magi to Bethlehem of Judea, in order to find out everything about the son of Mary and Joseph.

And you, Bethlehem, from the land of Judah,

You are not the least of the princes of Judah;

Because a guide will come out of you,

That he will feed my people Israel ”, said the prophecy.

Despite being a biblical commemoration, Mexicans tend to play jokes at all times, even on social networks or in local media, in the form of false news PHOTO: CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COMDespite being a biblical commemoration, Mexicans tend to play jokes at all times, even on social networks or in local media, in the form of false news PHOTO: CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COM

Do you know the tragic origin of the day of the innocent saints? It’s not all jokes!

Although the king assured that his objective was to go and worship him, it is described that an angel of the Lord appeared in Joseph’s dreams to indicate his sudden flight at full speed towards Egypt, as Herod sought to kill the newborn.

This is how one more saying of the prophet was fulfilled, who in the name of the Lord established: “Out of Egypt I called my Son” They remained in that destination until Herod’s death.

However, when he was betrayed, he ordered the killing of all those under two years of age who were in the land of Bethlehem, and in the surroundings. The time range was established according to the calendar in which the magicians were inquired about this investigation.

After Herod died, an angel appeared again in the dreams of the father, who sent him to Israel, but ended up in the region of Galilee, in the city ​​named Nazareth, “so that what was said by the prophets, that he was to be called a Nazarene ”.

Although the king assured that his objective was to go and worship him, it is described that an angel of the Lord appeared in Joseph's dreams to indicate his sudden flight at full speed towards Egypt, as Herod sought to kill the newborn.  PHOTO: CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COMAlthough the king assured that his objective was to go and worship him, it is described that an angel of the Lord appeared in Joseph’s dreams to indicate his sudden flight at full speed towards Egypt, as Herod sought to kill the newborn. PHOTO: CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COM

The crazy party

However, the tradition in Mexico dictates that it is a day to play all kinds of jokes on your colleagues or your family, it even reached the local newspapers, where false news is often published.

“Innocent little dove that you let yourself be fooled”, is often said when making a joke, just as a child would do, who is commemorated on this day.

Many could be the origins of this celebration, among which are the Fiesta de los Locos, celebrated in the Middle Ages by clergymen, a day dedicated to drinking, having fun, and saying obscenities.

The axis of the festival, as documented by María Eugenia Góngora, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities of the University of Chile, was a burlesque “mass”, in which she named a bishop-jester as the person in charge of directing it.

Do not lend money on the Day of the Holy Innocents, because you may not see it again PHOTO: CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COMDo not lend money on the Day of the Holy Innocents, because you may not see it again PHOTO: CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COM

However, there is also a celebration called Los Enharinados, in Alicante, Spain, where on December 28 hundreds of people take to the streets to face flour.

The dance of the crazy, the mayor of the crazy, the obispillo, the battles with eggs, among other traditions of Murcia, Córdoba, Valencia, etc., could also be precedents of jokes around the world.

The only thing that is certain, and you should avoid during December 28, is to lend money or things of value even if it is sentimental for you. It is also recommended not to open social networks, not to trust WhatsApp chains or extraordinary events without proof of their veracity. 

Mexico Daily Post