The concept of an early spring day reserved for playing jokes on friends and family is by no means culturally or geographically restricted to the United States’ April Fools’ Day. Though April Fools’ is celebrated in other parts of the world as well, such as Europe and Asia, other regions have their own holidays where friends can prank one another with impunity. El Día de los Inocentes (Day of Innocents, or Day of Innocent Saints) is one of these, a day celebrated on December 28 in many countries throughout Latin America as well as in Spain. Other similar days around the world include “April Fish” day in France and Italy, where unsuspecting victims get pictures of fish taped to their backs; a day of pranks accompanied by feasts and games in Iran called “Sizdah Bedar”; and India’s Holi festival, which welcomes spring with colored dust, paint, and practical jokes.
But where did the idea of a single day for pulling pranks come from? The origin of April Fools’ Day is uncertain. Some historians claim that the tradition began in 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar and the start of the new year was moved to January 1. Those who were slow on the uptake were still celebrating the new year at the end of March through the start of April and became the victims of hoaxes and tricks—hence the “fools” of April 1. Other historians tie April Fools’ Day to the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria at the end of March or a number of other theories.
The origin of Latin America’s Día de los Inocentes, though, is clear. The Day of the Innocents actually has its roots in a comparatively somber religious holiday. The Bible relates how King Herod ordered all male children under the age of 2 years to be executed on December 28, in order to ensure the death of the prophesied “new king,” the Christ Child, who was hidden from the slaughter after a warning from an angel. This event was not recorded outside of the Bible, and there is no historical documentation to prove that it happened. Even so, the Catholic Church remembers the infants that were killed, considered the first Christian martyrs, on the Day of the Innocent Saints on December 28. Now tradition dictates that pranks be played on unsuspecting innocents in Latin America, and to reveal the joke one may shout, “¡Inocente, inocente!” or recite the following poem based on the custom of borrowing things with no intention of returning them: Inocente palomita, Que te dejaste engañar, Sabiendo que en este día Nada se debe prestar. Innocent little dove, You let yourself be fooled Knowing that on this day, Nothing should be lent.
References
Berry, Allison. “April Fools’ Day Traditions Around the World.” TIME. 1 Apr. 2017. Web. 27 Mar. 2017
“‘Día de los Santos Inocentes’, la verdad detrás de la broma.” Terra. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.
“El origen del Día de los Inocentes y de las bromas en esta fecha.” RPP Noticias. 28 Dec. 2016. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.
Sanz, Elena. “¿Por qué se celebra el día de los Santos Inocentes el 28 de diciembre?” MuyHistoria.es. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.
“This Day in History: Apr 01, 1700, April Fools tradition popularized.” History.com. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.
