Not a joke: The history behind April Fool's Day
Ever since I can remember, I kind of dreaded April 1. That's basically because I am not a huge fan of practical jokes. But worldwide, several people take this prank day extremely seriously. Pranking your friends and family members on April Fool's Day has become a tradition now. Believe it or not, there are people who plan their pranks weeks in advance.
April Fool's Day supposedly began in Europe
But have you ever thought about how April Fool's Day started? The exact origins of this day are not known, but there are several stories linked to it. As per historians, it dates back hundreds of years to 1582. April Fool's Day was supposedly first celebrated in Europe and is linked to a change in calendars. Here is what happened!
The shift from Julian to Gregorian calendar
Until 1582, the new year used to begin around April 1, and in Europe on March 25. This was as per the Julian calendar which was set according to the vernal equinox. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which was later named after him. According to the new calendar, the new year was supposed to begin on January 1.
Not everyone was on board with the idea
However, the problem was that not everyone knew about it or chose to ignore the new calendar calling it a drastic change. These people continued to celebrate the new year toward March end or the beginning of April. So others started mocking people who continued to follow the old calendar calling them fools, hence giving birth to the concept of April Fool's Day.
Another legend links it to Rome
Several historians link April Fool's Day to a Roman festival called Hilaria. On this day, people rejoice and indulge in merriment dressed up in costumes and elaborate disguises. While we can never be sure of what the real story behind the day is, we definitely know it is a day people love, and some like me, not so much. Happy April Fool's Day!
