April Fool's Day

April Fool's Day

April the first stands mark'd by custom's rules, A day for being, and for making fools: — But, pray, what custom, or what rule supplies .The origins of April fool's day  are obscure. The most commonly cited theory holds that it dates from about 1582, the year France adopted the Gregorian calendar, which shifted the observance of New Year's Day from the end of March (around the time of the to the first of January. April Fools' Day, also called All Fools' Day, is celebrated every April 1st in the United States. While it is not officially recognized as a holiday, many celebrate by pranking, or pulling practical jokes on, their colleagues or by organizing larger-scale hoaxes. As

April Fools' is celebrated in different ways throughout the world, it is unknown exactly how the tradition originated. Some cultures saw it as the first day of spring, celebrating with general merriment and feasting, and certain calendars may consider it the first day of the year. One theory for the terming of an April Fool was that some refused to follow these calendars that recognized April 1st as the first day of the year, which resulted in being called an April Fool.While Americans will typically shout, "April Fools!" after pulling off a prank, Europeans sometimes refer to the holiday as "April Fish," as many observers will tack a paper fish to another's back and yell "April Fish!" However, the individual pranked is still referred to as the "Fool." Fish are often featured on European April Fools' Day cards. Traditional pranking often stops at midday in the United Kingdom, and if one pranks after this time, they themselves become the fool. The origins of this custom are somewhat uncertain, but may have initially been related to the arrival of Spring in late March, at which time Mother Nature is said to "fool" the human race with sudden and fickle changes in the weather...showers one minute and sunshine the next. The playing of practical jokes, however, dates back to Ancient Rome and such activities were an integral part of the Hilaria celebrations held on March 25, a celebration which would again appear to be associated with the coming of Spring and the Vernal Equinox, held to honor the resurrection of Attis, Roman God of Vegetation who was linked to the seasonal cycle. In England, an ancient legend states that April Fool's Day commemorates the fruitless mission of the Rook (or European Crow) which was sent out in search of land from Noah's flood-encircled ark.