April Fools Day Pranks & Practical Jokes

Perhaps the most widely accepted theory of the origin of April Fools’ Day goes back to a time when the western world employed the Julian calendar. At that time, new years began on March 25 and festivals marking the start of the New Year were celebrated on the first day of April because March 25 fell during a Holy Week. However, after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in the 1500s, the New Year moved to January 1. The "April fools" were those who could be tricked into believing April 1 was still the proper day to celebrate the New Year. The key prank during this time was for French peasants to unexpectedly drop in on neighbors on that day in an effort to confuse them into thinking they were receiving a New Year's call. And out of that one lark supposedly grew the tradition of testing the patience of family and friends.

However, there are some who question this theory and will often claim that perhaps the timing of this day of pranks could be related to the arrival of spring, when nature "fools" mankind with fickle weather. Another more biblical theory that April Fools' Day "is thought to commemorate the fruitless mission of the rook (the European crow), who was sent out in search of land from Noah's flood-encircled ark." While others theorize it may have something to do with the Vernal Equinox or perhaps tie in with the Romans' end-of-winter celebration, Hilaria, and the end of the Celtic New Year festival.

Have a happy April Fools’ Day!