Every year, April 1 is celebrated as Fool’s Day around the world. Friends and families come together and prank each other by lying and shocking each other.
According to History.com, some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563.
How April Fool’s Day originated?
The true origins of April Fools’ Day remain unknown and are probably lost to history. However, there are several theories that revolve around the prank-day.
One story goes that April Fools’ Day began with France’s 1564 Edict of Roussillon, which decreed that New Year’s Day, historically observed on Easter by Christians, was moved to January 1. Easter is a movable, lunar-based date but often falls in April, so it’s said that early adopters dubbed people celebrating the old New Year ‘April Fools.’
Another theory is Holi, a Hindu spring festival celebrated in late March during which people can forgive and forget past faults by throwing colored powder and water on one another.
Another reason behind it was the Greco-Roman Festival “HILARIA” (which celebrated in the honour of ancient Greek mother of Gods “CYBELE” ) includes jokes, masquerades and parades.
Thus, the story goes that the ones who did not follow the new calendar were considered foolish and made fun of by those who did. The day is filled with jokes and laughter that looks forward to for all the happiness it generates.
