April Fools’ Day is celebrated on 1 April every year. April fool’s day is not a national holiday but is widely recognized and celebrated in various countries as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other called April fools.
Its origins are uncertain.In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year’s Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. That year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year’s day to Jan. 1. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on “fool’s errands” or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.
Click here to see CBS News’ list of the 15 best hoaxes.
