April’s Fools’ Day: How It All Started

April Fools’ Day: Understand what it is and why we “celebrate” it.

11:29 01 April 2013

In case you don’t know, April Fools’ Day isn’t a legal holiday. However, it is something that is celebrated in several countries across the world on April 1st.

If you’re one of those people who play prank, or who at one point become a victim of this tradition, do you ever wonder where April Fools’ Day started?

Well, the origin of April Fools’ Day is not clearly known, however several people believe that it’s the result of the changes in the calendar system. Allegedly before, New Year celebrations began on March 25th and ended on April 1st.

However, King Charles of France changed the calendar system in 1582 and as a result, moved New Year to January 1st.

Unfortunately, some people were not informed about the change and stuck with April 1st. These people became the object of so-called “fool’s errands.”

The superstitions that many people believe in relation to April Fools’ Day are equally amusing. Some believe that practical jokes should only be played before noon that day, otherwise the perpetrator will suffer from bad luck.

Another one is, if a person fails to respond in the proper spirit of tolerance, he too will suffer from bad luck.

Some people also believed that if a pretty girl played a prank on a man, this will result in marriage or at least, friendship.