FROM KOMOS TO FOOLS DAY (some facts and theories)

Pagan rites that mark the end of Winter, both at the Solstice and even
more so at the start of Spring with the Equinox, universally contain
‘absurdism’ as one of their most important elements. This is preserved in
India within the Spring Festival of Holi, which not only includes
religious festivities but also Fool traditions including the throwing of
coloured powder, in a way much like the modern custard pie, and all sorts
of other pranks and mockery. As well as a general carnival atmosphere
in which ‘a special drink called bhang is consumed, which actually
contains small amounts of marijuana’. In the West these traditions have
crystalised around April Fools Day. But within this tradition we can also
trace a more historical path that starts in Ancient Greece.

The term Comedy is derived from the Greek Komodia, the names of comedic
plays performed in Ancient Athens. These were originally choral
performances and based on mocking songs rather than plays as we know them. But in the sophisticated society of Athens would evolve into what we would recognise as satire, performances that cleverly mocked the
establishment and tradition with wit rather than foolery.

In rural districts of Ancient Greece however the Komodia were far more
anarchic and preserved the older tradition of mocking and bawdy songs.
The actually name Komodia was derived from ‘song on the occasion of a
Komos’. Just as their opposite the Tragedy plays were named after the
Tragodia, the ‘song on the occasion of the goat’, referring to the ritual
goat sacrifice. The ritual referred to by the Komodia was however more fun.

The Komos was a wild pagan procession through the streets, basically
the ancient equivalent of a carnival. In Athenian times it was a men only
affair, with male participants strapping on leather phallus. However
others were dressed as women, and the evidence suggests the original
Komos included everyone. The Athenian development beings a more recent
mode. It was basically a time of unrestraint and transgression, though of a
generally comical kind. Sexuality played a big part in the Komos
procession which were led by the Phallophori, or phallus bearers carrying
huge dildos. But comedy and foolery was the real spirit behind this, with
the term ‘slapstick’ being derived from the soft leather phalli that
the revellers would hit each other and passers by with. The general
impression being of a bawdy carnival of comedy and iconoclasm.

The earliest form of Komos is portrayed as a swarming band of
intoxicated men and women running through the streets causing pandemonium and playing practical jokes on all those they met, particular the respected, powerful and wealthy, and generally mocking tradition and transgressing social norms. This was allowed as it was considered a religious act in the cult of Dionysos, the god of ecstatic paganism, revered by the
common people as the champion of the dispossessed and the outsider. For
the establishment it was something they had to put up with, an ancient
tradition that maintained a ‘closeness to nature’ in their society,
which as pagans they respected. Though they later managed to assimilate it
as a cathartic ‘pressure valve’ as promoted a domesticated form from
which our modern carnivals are in part derived.

The original Komos was said to be far more uncontrollable however, as
it was said to be a time in midwinter when the villagers from the
poorest regions of Greece swarmed into Athens and other cities, seeking out
the rich and powerful in order to mock and play tricks on them. The
wealthy ‘suburbs’ of Athens were particularly targeted for revenge. This
usually occurred in a state of intoxication and disinhibition from the
first wine of the season, drunk in honour of the god of intoxication and
liberation, Dionysos. Though the revelries were named after a ‘son’ of
Dionysos called Komos, who was probably a 'Fool' aspect of the God.

Originally the Rural Komos started in December, much like the Roman
Saturnalia, to which it may have been related, it peaked on the first wine
festival in early January and continued into February, much like Mardi
Gras, which is also indirectly related to it (the New Orleans Carnival
was turned into the event it is today by a ‘secret society’ of
libertines calling themselves the Mystical Krew of Komos, who merged the Creole Mardi Gras festivities with the European Carnival, and more ancient
pagan/christian traditions, to recreate a ‘New Dionysia’ as some called it).

Back in Ancient Rome these traditions were originally absorbed by a
slightly more restrained festival of Bacchus, which may have taken on
elements of the Roman Saturnalia which occurred before it (Saturnalia
certainly seems to have taken on Bacchanalian elements). The Saturnalia was
a time when laws and social norms were suspended, power handed over to
the anarchic Lord of Misrule and roles were reversed for a time (with
masters serving their slaves at special banquets). Initially a
relatively relaxed holiday feast it became more Bacchanalian over time and took
on elements of the absurdist tradition and the Lord of Misrule became
more of a Fool figure. When the Dionysos cult and its Bacchanals were
banned the Saturnalia became the only outlet for Komos type traditions.

In Athens however the Komos had been shifted to the New Year
celebrations of March 24-28, when Comedy was performed, along side Tragedy, and revelries embarked on as part of the Great Dionysia. This may have also been intended to assimilate into it the more universal absurdist traditions of the equinox celebrations as well as a general celebration of Spring.

When the Romans adopted elements of this they moved it to March 25th,
their own New Year, with its Calend revelries and guising traditions, and called it Hilaria (one of several) in honour of the wild goddess Cybele and her son Attis. More manageable deities acknowledged by the State, unlike the formerly illegal cult of Dionysos. It also absorbed local traditions here. Pranks were banned but all kinds of games and amusements were allowed on this day, masquerades were the most popular, and every one might, in his disguise, imitate whomsoever he liked, and even magistrates.

In Medieval times a Christian version of this tradition was celebrated
on both April 1st and January 1st.

The most well known of these being the Feast of Fools celebrated by the
Church during the Twelve Days on Jan 1st. This was a sanctioned mockery of
Christianity by the junior clergy, which seems to have preserved elements
of the Roman Saturnalia and Hilaria and the Hellenic Dionysia . In
medieval times, most Europeans adopted this Roman aesthetic by electing a
Lord of Misrule, or King of Fools. This harlequin king went by many
names: King of the Bean in England and the Abbot of Unreason in Scotland.
All had the power to call people to disorder. Cross dressing, bawdy
songs, drinking to excess, and gambling on the church altar were only a few
of the wanton acts reported. In some places the Festival of the Ass was
commemorated. A young girl with babe in arms entered a church riding an
ass or donkey (an animal sacred to both Dionysos and Saturn as well as
having Christian significance). During the mock services, prayer
responses that would have normally included an 'amen' were substituted by a
hearty 'hee-haw'. Unfortunately this was banned in the 15th cent.

A secular festival of a similar nature seems have been retained on the
March 25th date (Old New Year till the Gregorian Calender was introduced
and Equinox) but later moved to April 1st. Why this should have been moved
is uncertain, but it is speculated that this may have been due to changes in the
Calender. The medieval version was associated with smaller scale festivities
and the Fools and ass eared Jesters who made their career from mocking the
established order. An apocryphal origin of April 1st claims it was begun under
Emperor Constantine. When a group of court jesters told the Emperor that they could do a better job of running his 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.

April Fools' Day is observed throughout the Western world. Practices
include sending someone on a "fool's errand," looking for things that
don't exist; playing pranks; and trying to get people to believe ridiculous things. Though the 1st of April appears to have been anciently observed in Great Britain as a general festival, it was apparently not until the beginning of the 18th century that the making of April-fools was a common custom.