April Fools’ Day originated in France during King Charles IX’s reign. The king changed the New Year’s Day to January 1, but traditionalists continued to celebrate on March 25. To ridicule them, pranksters sent fake invitations and silly gifts, calling them “April Fools.” The tradition spread to England and the New World, and is celebrated worldwide on April 1. Pranks are supposed to end by noon, but continue until nightfall in some countries.
While the exact origin of April Fools’ Day is far from certain, most historical evidence indicates that this tradition of pranks and pranks dates back to the reign of King Charles IX of France. In 16th-century France, New Year’s Eve was traditionally celebrated on March 25, associated for centuries with the advent of spring. Feasts, banquets and gift exchanges were held throughout the country for the entire week, which ended on April 1st.
However, in 1564, King Charles proclaimed that New Year’s Day would be moved to January 1, in an effort to bring his country into line with the more accurate Gregorian calendar. Many Frenchmen, however, refused to listen to the king’s new reform and chose to ignore the government’s efforts to modernize the calendar. These conservative traditionalists continued to celebrate the old New Year’s Day on March 25 as always, continuing as before with their feasts and gifts throughout the following week.
Those who have embraced the king’s efforts to modernize the calendar have found the traditionalists’ refusal to change their ways ridiculous. In an effort to humiliate and embarrass these stubborn citizens, many people would concoct fake invitations to non-existent parties and events, inventing all sorts of tricks to fool the unwary old men. Instead of serious, well-meaning gifts, these pranksters often sent silly gifts as a way of mocking the previous practice.
As a nod to the sun’s shift from the Pisces astrological sign, the targets of these April Fool’s jokes were called “April Fools.” The whole tradition of April Fool’s Day became so popular in France, that for centuries thereafter, any person involved in a significant event on April Fool’s Day earned the nickname “April Fool’s Day.” Notably, even Napoleon I was not exempt from this kind of ridicule. Having married his second wife, Marie-Louise, on April 1, many French people secretly called him “April Fish.”
Over time, the tradition of April Fools crossed the English Channel and was also celebrated by the British. When the British settled in the New World, they brought their love of April Fools with them, and to this day, April 1, is enjoyed around the world as an opportunity to play pranks and perpetrate hoaxes on the gullible and unaware. Traditionally, April Fools’ pranks are supposed to end by noon, but in many countries, the shenanigans continue until nightfall.
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