April Fool’s Day, also known as All Fool’s Day, is as allusive as they come since its origins are uncertain. Because of it jokes and pranks it has become the most light-hearted day of the year. It is believed that in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar – the Gregorian Calendar. The new calendar had January 1st become the new “New Year’s Day”.
It is said France adopted this new calendar but many people refused to accept January 1st as New Year’s Day. The people that had adopted the new date would make fun of the traditionalists, by sending them on “fool’s errands” or trying to trick them into believing in something false. Eventually the practice spread throughout Europe. The French call April 1st Poisson d’Avril or “April Fish” because it is customary for French children to tape a picture of a fish on the back of their classmates, yelling “Poisson d’Avril” when the prank is discovered.
This is only one tale of when April Fool’s Day was created but in actuality there are many pranks throughout history that depicts stories of hoaxes. Many companies and broadcasting outfits got involved by putting out products or stories, and then telling their customers or followers they had been April Fooled.
Because it is a day celebrating mischief and misbehavior there are a couple of unwritten rules that have been observed for generations:
Do No Harm (and nothing illegal): light-hearted pranks only, it should be funny to everyone involved. Traditions include gluing a coin on the ground, putting salt into sugar bowl, and tricking someone into believing something untrue. This prank should never cause physical or psychological harm.
No Pranks after Noon: the premise is the prank can only be perpetrated by noon and anyone doing a prank after that is the actual fool. It is believed more people will more likely be fooled in the morning, when they might not remember what day it is.
Happy April Fool's Day everyone! LIVE LIFE WELL ALWAYS - and put a little laughter in it.
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