April Fools' Day, though an unofficial holiday, is widely popular across the world. It’s a day to share jokes, pull pranks, and laugh generously. If you’re like most people, you may have caught yourself wondering more than once exactly where April Fools’ Day came from. While there are many stories associated with it, the most popular one goes back to 16th century France. In 1582, France switched to the Gregorian calendar from the Julian calendar as decided by the Council of Trent in 1563. Before the change, New Year’s Day was celebrated around the time of the spring equinox, which used to fall between March 25 and April 1. The new calendar moved the start of the new year to January. Like all new things, this change took people some time to adjust to, with many either refusing to accept the new date or remaining unaware of the change. People who continued to celebrate the new year during the last week of March or April 1 during spring equinox were called April fools and were subjected to ridicule and pranks. A day dedicated to jokes, pranks and laughter, April Fools' Day provides a much-needed break from the monotony of routine life and an opportunity to indulge in some fun with friends and loved ones.
