In Honor of
April Fools' Day
April 1st
If only I had the courage to do this!
A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION OF THE ORIGINS OF APRIL FOOL'S DAY was provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.
"In a way," explained Prof. Boskin, "it was a very serious day. In those times fools were really wise men. It was the role of jesters to put things in perspective with humor."
This explanation was brought to the public's attention in an Associated Press article printed by many newspapers in 1983. There was only one catch: Boskin made the whole thing up. It took a couple of weeks for the AP to realize that they'd been victims of an April Fools' joke themselves.
When trying to determine the beginning of April Fools’ Day, it is worth noting that different cultures have had days of foolishness around the start of April, give or take a couple of weeks. The Romans had a festival named Hilaria, a day of merriment and rejoicing to celebrate the resurrection of Attis. The Hindu calendar has Holi, also known as festival of colors, where everyone plays, chases and colors each other with dry powder and colored water. The Jewish calendar has Purim, commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.” Perhaps there's something about the time of year, with its turn from winter to spring, that lends itself to lighthearted celebrations.
Video Starts Here
UPDATES
GROWING UP IN THE 40S & 50S
Our new series has become so long that it's now divided into 5 pages or sections. You will find it at the bottom of the list of topics to the left of this HOME PAGE. Look for its title -- GROWING UP IN THE 40s & 50s -- and then choose the subtitle you wish or you can copy and paste the link below in your browser.
12/31 Post: "12 Things NOT Found in Schools Anymore"
Copy & paste: https://www.thestreatorhighschool1958.com/Flashbacks.htm
Or click on GROWING UP IN THE 40s & 50s and choose "Overviews . . ." from the Flyout Menu
HOW I GOT WHERE I AM
It's time for you to write your "story" of where and why you're living where you are. Some have chosen to write a lengthy narrative, which has been wonderful; but I fear it's frightened off others.
Please just share what made you choose your hometown to retire in; or if you're still working, please tell us where and what keeps you going. We'll take stories of any size - we just want to catch up on YOU!
You can email them to me at indianamackey@aol.com or post them on "What's New!"
You'll find the answers we've received so far - How I Got Where I Am - listed to the left of the HOME PAGE about half way down and just before "Special Series."
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BUT ARE
TOO SHY TOO ASK
We didn't have the "computer advantage" when we were growing up so many of us are a little timid when approaching this newfangled contraption. With that in mind, a new forum section entitled "All You Need to Know But Are too Shy to Ask" has been created.
The new feature has directions for many of the skills needed to take full advantage of our web site. It even explains how to print those directions so you can have them in front of you as you navigate into new territory.
A second feature explains exactly how to obtain additional help with any problem which may come up. It's really simple: just email me, as site administrator; and I'll get the answer straight from the experts at Class Creator.
So now, with a little bit of determination, you can fully explore the site, send emails, reply to survey questions, comment in forums, and load pictures. Just click on the link below.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BUT ARE TOO SHY TO ASK
or copy and paste the following into search
http://www.thestreatorhighschool1958.com/classforums_threads.cfm?fid=6385
A NOTE TO NEWCOMERS
Glad to have you online with us!
Please register and choose a password so you can explore the complete site we have created. It's filled with classmates' memories, pictures, updates, information on the Fifties, and more.
So Welcome to the World of Streator High School 1958!
PROFILE UPDATES
| • | Carole Fanizzo (Mackey) 12/30 |
| • | Judy Kooi (Clark) 3/29 |
| • | James Alderman 3/8 |
| • | Robert Wilson 11/30 |
| • | Marsha Turner (Hill) 9/20 |
| • | William Schallhammer 2/23 |
| • | Bruce Mackey 1/27 |
| • | Kamell Abdnour 6/8 |
| • | Carolyn Erler 6/7 |
| • | Robert Brewer 6/5 |
 |