Everyone’s so excited about the annual event where tomfoolery and ludicrous acts done for the sake of entertainment is acceptable to everyone. Despite it being popular all over the world, do we really know when or how exactly April Fools’ day started?
The origin of this hilariously fun day dates back to the 1700’s when English pranksters pioneered the tradition of pulling pranks on other people on the first day of April. Although the exact reason why April Fools’ is celebrated is still vague.
The popular belief is that it has started in France in 1582 when the country has decided to switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar following the changes brought about by the Council of Trent in 1563. During that time, many people weren’t properly informed about the changes is tradition more specifically on the part that New Year’s day had shifted to January 1. Prior to the changes, new year celebrations were done from the end of March until April first.
People who were late in the news continued to celebrate the old Julian Calendar tradition of celebrating the new year, but were ridiculed by the majority. They became the target of most jokes and pranks which included paper fishes placed on their backs as “poisson d’avril” or April fish which symbolizes how gullible fishes are caught.
Another theory about the origins of April Fools’ Day traces back to the Roman celebration of Hilaria. This custom is practiced during the end of March and the Romans dressed up in ridiculous disguises April Fools’ was also said to be related to the vernal equinox or the first day of spring. It was said that during the equinox, Mother Nature pulls prank on people through unpredictable weather.
Now, more and more people celebrate April Fools’ day. Many even go through various lengths just to pull pranks on their families and friends. What about you, how are you going to celebrate April Fools?