Definition: Every year during the Middle Ages, throughout Europe and
particularly in France, the Feast of Fools was celebrated on
or about January 1st. A wild
festival where strict Christian morals were abandoned and ridiculous
rites were practiced, the Feast of Fools included absurd
traditions such as choosing a young boy as "pope" or "bishop" and
relegating the highest local church officials to the status of
servants for the day. Many ridiculous ceremonies were performed and
people generally cut loose.
The Catholic Church tried repeatedly to ban the Feast of Fools, but its popularity and the emotional and psychological outlet it provided kept it flourishing into the sixteenth century, even under the threat of penalties imposed by the Council of Basle. The Feast of Fools most likely had its origins in the Roman Saturnalia.
