April Fool’s Day

The History of April Fool’s Day

The true origins of April Fool’s Day remains a mystery to historians. There are a handful of theories as to how this goofy holiday came to be. Stories of April Fool’s Day date back to 1582, when the French were changing from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. Under the new calendar the New Year began January 1st. Those who were a “fool” and hadn’t received the news were found celebrating the “new year” at the end of March into April. These people became the butt of jokes and hoaxes. An alternate theory explores the idea that April Fool’s Day is based around the Spring Equinox, the changing of seasons. This idea evolved because Mother Nature has a tendency of “fooling” us with the unpredictable weather.
April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century. In Scotland, the tradition became a two-day event, starting with “hunting the gowk,” in which people were sent on phony errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool) and followed by Tailie Day, which involved pranks played on people’s derrieres, such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them. In modern times, people have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations and Web sites have participated in the April 1st tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims that have fooled their audiences.

www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-fools-tradition-popularized

 

jester

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Spring is Here!

It is official, Spring is here.  With the snow and ice melting, many of us who have been staying inside are now enjoying the warmer temperatures and sunshine.

This is a very busy time of year for our community.  After the long winter, calls are coming in from those interested in downsizing and giving up shoveling snow.  If you, a friend or a loved one are considering a spring move, call us.  We would love to answer any questions you might have and introduce you to our beautiful community.

www.copperfieldhill.com

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March is National Nutrition Month & Happy St. Patrick’s Day

There is no doubt, that at any age, if we pay attention to what we eat and eat better (healthier), we feel better.  Many common health problems can be helped by a better diet.  For example heart disease, diabetes, obesity and many digestive issues can all be helped by paying attention to what we eat and drink.  March is “National Nutrition Month” and is sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nutrition Month focuses on helping people to make correct food choices as well as developing good eating and exercising habits.  Learn more about this at www.eatright.org.

You can find some healthy St. Patrick’s Day recipes at www.cookinglight.com/entertaining/holidays-occasions/healthy-irish-recipes

sham

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Daylight Savings Time Begins on Sunday, March 10th, 2019*

Longer days are here! It is time to “Spring Ahead”. Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 10th. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 9th. On average, in March, we see between 11 and 12 hours of daylight. To help adjust with the change here are some helpful tips below.
1. Don’t change your schedule. Stick to regular waking, eating, sleeping and exercise times.
2. Have a nighttime routine. Prepare your body for sleep by engaging in a few relaxing activities before hitting the hay.
3. Avoid long naps. Keep naps short (between 20-30 minutes) to avoid disrupting your sleep schedule.
4. Get some natural sunlight. Sunlight helps regulate your body’s internal clock.
Daylight Saving Time does steal light from the morning, but the sun continues to rise earlier and thus the length of the day increases at its most rapid pace during the next three months.
There is always debate surrounding daylight saving time, but the redistribution of daylight to more useful hours of the day is always a strong argument to keep it. This 100 year old practice will always have supporters and detractors. While some of us dislike losing an hour of precious time and sleep, the payoff is an extra hour of evening sun. Most agree, that’s worth it!

*Information at:

www.washingtonpost.com

www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/daylight-saving-time-2019-starts-sunday-here-s-how-prepare

 

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March is National Sleep Awareness Month

Sleep is an important part of any healthy lifestyle. On average, individuals should try to get 7 to 8 hours per night. Proper sleep can help someone strengthen their immune system against a cold or help them meet their weight lose goals. Losing even an hour of sleep can cause problems. Not getting enough sleep at night doesn’t just lead to a tired morning, it can cause: forgetfulness, irritability and increase your risk to certain health problems like heart disease or diabetes. Here are some tips to help improve your sleeping habits*:

 

  • Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.
  • Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark.
  • Only use your bed for sleep. For example, avoid watching TV from bed.
  • Avoid eating large meals before bed.
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed. Some may think drinking alcohol helps them sleep, but the quality of the sleep is poor.

There are many sleep behavior disorders that cause an inability to get the sleep and rest one needs to be healthy. A few that are most common are: sleep apnea, sleep talking, REM disorder, restless leg syndrome, general pain and atypical work schedules. These are common areas of sleep disorder and can be discussed with a medical professional. However, having good sleep habits is the best way to make one feel rested and refreshed in the morning.

*Learn more at:

www.americanhealthcenterltd.com

www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics

 

www.mayoclinic.org

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