Why do people celebrate hunt the gowk day?

Answer 1

The first of April is Hunt the Gowk day in Scotland. People tell lies and play jokes on each other until mid day. The Gowk is another name for a Cuckoo which is thought to be a silly bird. The name is believed to come from an old trick where the person is sent out with a message:

Dinna laugh and dinna smile - but hunt the Gowk for another mile.

At each place the message bearer is sent on to someone else.. It is said in the Middle Ages, New Years day was celebrated on 25th March. New Year was a week long holiday and ended on the 1st April. Many writers have suggested that April Fools day (1st April) originated because those who celebrated on 1st January made fun of those who celebrated on other dates. April Fool jokes have been played ever since