Mexico's April Fool's Day: Dia de los Inocentes
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04/05/2013 12:29 PM EDT
On Monday, it's possible that you were tricked into believing the clocks were an hour fast or that several of your Facebook friends had either become engaged or unexpectedly split up. Whether it took you a few seconds or several hours, one would hope you eventually checked the calendar and realized that you were the victim of an April Fool's joke.
In Mexico and Spain, a similar tradition of mischief is observed on December 28, which is known throughout the Spanish-speaking world as el Dia de los Inocentes or the Day of the Innocent Ones. Originally a somber occasion with religious overtones, the holiday has grown more lighthearted through the centuries. Today, it is observed with the same practical jokes and false newspaper headlines that we in the United States associate with April 1.
It is well-known in Mexico that money lent on December 28 will most likely remain in the pocket of the recipient. The foolish lender will then hear the following singsong refrain: "Inocente palomita, que te dejaste enganar, sabiendo que en este dia nada se debe prestar." In English, this translates to: "Innocent little dove, you let yourself be fooled, knowing that on this day nothing should be lent." Fools may also be marked by a small white paper doll, a symbol that friends stick to each other's backs to indicate the "innocence" of the person who wears it.
To find out more about Spanish and Latin American customs and traditions, come and visit us in the Hispanic Division! If you're interested in Mexican history and culture, be sure to consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) (http://hlasopac.loc.gov), or send a question to the Hispanic Division reference staff via Ask-a-Librarian (http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/).
The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240, and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.
In Mexico and Spain, a similar tradition of mischief is observed on December 28, which is known throughout the Spanish-speaking world as el Dia de los Inocentes or the Day of the Innocent Ones. Originally a somber occasion with religious overtones, the holiday has grown more lighthearted through the centuries. Today, it is observed with the same practical jokes and false newspaper headlines that we in the United States associate with April 1.
It is well-known in Mexico that money lent on December 28 will most likely remain in the pocket of the recipient. The foolish lender will then hear the following singsong refrain: "Inocente palomita, que te dejaste enganar, sabiendo que en este dia nada se debe prestar." In English, this translates to: "Innocent little dove, you let yourself be fooled, knowing that on this day nothing should be lent." Fools may also be marked by a small white paper doll, a symbol that friends stick to each other's backs to indicate the "innocence" of the person who wears it.
To find out more about Spanish and Latin American customs and traditions, come and visit us in the Hispanic Division! If you're interested in Mexican history and culture, be sure to consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) (http://hlasopac.loc.gov), or send a question to the Hispanic Division reference staff via Ask-a-Librarian (http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/).
The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240, and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.
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