Happy April! A friend did a little research on the origins of April Fool's Day and About.com offered a pretty complete perspective. Here's what they say:

"An observance which takes place in many western countries every April 1, traditionally known as April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day (aka Poisson d'Avril - "April Fish" - in France). It's a day when humor reigns and harmless pranks, practical jokes, and hoaxes are sanctioned. Customary practices range from simple tricks played on friends, family, and coworkers to elaborate media hoaxes concocted for mass consumption.

Theories of origin:

The origins of April Fools' Day are obscure. The most commonly cited theory holds that it dates from 1582, the year France adopted the Gregorian Calendar, which shifted the observance of New Year's Day from the end of March (around the time of the vernal equinox) to the first of January.

According to popular lore some folks, out of ignorance, stubbornness, or both, continued to ring in the New Year on April 1 and were made the butt of jokes and pranks on account of their foolishness. This became an annual tradition, according to this version of events, which ultimately spread throughout Europe.

A major weakness of the calendar-change theory is that it fails to account for an historical record replete with traditions linking this time of year to merriment and tomfoolery dating all the way back to antiquity.
The Romans, for example, celebrated a festival on March 25 called Hilaria, marking the occasion with masquerades and "general good cheer."

Holi, the Hindu "festival of colors" observed in early March with "general merrymaking" and the "loosening of social norms," is at least as old.

It seems reasonable to speculate that the calendrical changes of the 16th and 17th centuries served more as an excuse to codify the general spirit of frivolity already associated with the advent of spring than as a direct inspiration."

And now Easter celebrations are upon us. We have listed several events below, always check our calendar for more ideas, and as always if you know of something that's going on please submit it to our calendar. As a child I never found a chocolate bunny with a head.  Funny how that tradition has made its way to subsequent generations.  Read below for some great tips for dyeing eggs.

                                                                                      Parmalee

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• If you are using a kit, make sure to boil your eggs and let them cool completely before dyeing.
• Liven your eggs up with stickers. Place them on the egg, then dip the egg in dye. Let the egg dry completely before removing the sticker and you will have a fun pattern on your egg.
• Consider Natural Easter Egg Dye- you can buy kits or make your own.
• Create natural tones --- Combine the dye source with 1/2 Tablespoon of vinegar with some cold water in a saucepan. Add raw eggs (make sure there's enough water to cover the eggs) and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you simmer, the darker the color will be, but simmer at least 8 minutes so that the eggs cook thoroughly.
• Natural color sources:
  Brown - the outer layers of onions, tea or coffee
  Yellow - turmeric or saffron
  Red - cranberries
  Purple - beets, purple onion skin
  Green - spinach
  Blue - blueberries
• Create a marbled effect --- Wrap your uncooked eggs in onion skins (white and purple) or spinach. Use white string to secure the wrap and then place the eggs in the foot of an old nylon stocking and tie a knot. Gently boil the stocking and egg in a pot of covered water with 1/2 Tablespoon vinegar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes. Leave the eggs in the wrap for awhile, when you unwrap them they will all look different.
• Make Easter Bunny Eggs- Use food coloring dye or natural dyes to dye eggs in solid colors. Dry with paper towel. For each bunny egg, cut two oval shaped ears from colored paper. Glue the ears to the top of the egg. Add plastic "google" eyes. Use non-toxic markers to add a small triangle for a nose and some whiskers. Glue on a cotton ball for a tail.
• Patterns- use string or tape to block out patterns on the egg.  Let dry completely. Remove tape/string and admire your artsy creations.