April 1st has become a day when anybody can play jokes on anyone. It is so popular that even corporations will play pranks on their customers. So where did this silly day even come from?
Unfortunately, this question remains unanswered. No one is completely sure where April Fools’ Day came from. One of the major theories gives credit to Pope Gregory XII, the creator of the Gregorian calendar; the same one that we follow to this day. In 1562, the Gregorian calendar moved the first day of the year from April 1st to January 1st. In a world without iMessage, Facebook, and Twitter, word spread slowly and some people continued to celebrate the new year on April 1st. These people were called the “April Fools” and were tricked by the people in the know.
Eventually, the tradition spread to other countries such as Portugal, England, and the U.S. The holiday is celebrated differently in each country. In Portugal, April Fools’ Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. To celebrate, many people will throw flour at their friends. In England, it is considered bad luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon so jokes are only played in the morning. In Scotland, the day is devoted to pranks involving the buttocks, so it is called Taily Day. The origins of the famous “Kick Me!” sign can be traced back to this Scottish observance.
So no matter where you may be on April 1st, be careful because you may become the butt of a joke!
Sources:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080328-april-fools/
http://jumbofiles.com/aeg8cbhn1f8c
Photo Sources:
http://www.graphics99.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/zz.jpg
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/178/cache/april-fools-day-facts-kids-kite_17830_600x450.jpg
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter.