Origin of April Fool's Day

What's the origin of April Fool's Day?

Honestly? No one knows. But there are a lot of fun theories.

The most popular belief is that it occurred in the 1500s when Europe changed from the Julian calendar, which began April 1, to the Gregorian with New Year's Day on January 1. This reportedly created confusion either due to some people willfully rejecting the change, or due to slow communication and simply getting the word out. Those who celebrated New Year's Day April 1 were called fools by the others, and became the butt of practical jokes. Yet that doesn't explain why April Fools' Day is mentioned Chaucer’s 14th-century "Canterbury Tales" and other earlier writings, nor why so many other countries celebrated it early on.

For a short time, it was believed that the unofficial holiday originated in Istanbul in the court of Constantine when a jester commented that he could run the country better. The king was amused rather than offended so he gave up the throne to the jester for a day. The first-ever April fool declared it a day of absurdities...and the tradition stuck. This story, however, proved a hoax, all made up by the ultimate April Foolster and who hoodwinked a news station with the story.

Another theory is that April weather so fickle that Mother Nature continues to fool us, so people began playing pranks on each other.

Yet another claims it is a celebration related to the vernal equinox.

And still another is that it commemorates the bird (crow or dove, depending on who you believe) Noah sent out to find land and who came back because she couldn't find a place to nest.

Regardless of it's origin, April Fool's Day is one of the most observed of all holidays, unofficial or official. In some countries, people believe it's bad luck to play jokes on people after noon while others play jokes all day long on hapless friends, family and co-workers. Some pranks are harmless and often involve sending people out of wild goose chases or difficult tasks. Others are not so kind.

So, may your April Fool's Day be filled with harmless laughter.