April Fools’ Day: When and How Did This Tradition Begin?

April Fools' Day, or All Fools' Day, is an international holiday celebrated every year on April 1st across the world, when people play practical jokes, pull pranks, and send friends on fools' errands, from which it received its name. The celebrations of this festival resemble that of Hilaria of ancient Rome.

One of the most eagerly anticipated holidays, April Fools' day is an excuse where pulling pranks and jokes, tricking others only to shout 'April Fools' with bouts of laughter and fun, and sharing Fools’ Day greetings is customary. But how did this international holiday come to be celebrated in the first place? When did the tradition of April Fools begin and why is it celebrated on April 1st?

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April Fool 2024 is on April 01 Monday

9 months and 19 days to go for the event

Origin and Story of April Fools’ Day

It is no surprise that the Sun is the most exalted when it takes its position in the cardinal fire sign, Aries. Such unbridled behavior of the Sun causes a disturbing influence on Earth when people began behaving unlike themselves, more insane, lunatic and erratic. Astrologers, back in the early 1560s, blamed this on the peculiar planetary alignment of the Sun and the stars in Aries with respect to the Earth. Eventually, people found joy in this day, that they began to fool others by sending friends on ‘fool errands’ and have fun when their pranks were revealed. This custom was mostly observed in the beginning of April every year, and hence, April 1st was pinned the title of April Fools’ Day.

Even to this day, this particular Sun-Earth affinity and correlation is observed with records of similar intensity of exaltation of the Sun, if explained in astrological terms. Thus, the origin of April Fools’ is founded in astrology.

Well, You've Been Fooled!

The origin of Fools' Day remains a mystery, its traces lost in history. The truth is, nobody knows when and how the tradition of April Fools began. Theories have snowballed as stories and lyrical expressions that could be considered as assumptions dating back to the beginning of April Fools Day. Well, these theories and stories could be a hoax in itself.

Some say that the festival originated in France back in 1564 when King Charles IX decreed to celebrate New Year on January 1st instead of observing it on Easter, which is subject to the Lunar-based calendar. The people who were reluctant to adapt to the change and the people who stood unaware of it were considered fools.

A lyrical piece written by a Flemish poet, back in the 16th century describe how his servant was fooled and sent on frequent errands in preparation of a feast.

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales consisted of the story, ‘The Nun’s Priest’s Tale’ which records a mention of ‘32 March’, or April 1st, hinting references to a day of foolery and trickery back in the 14th Century:

    When that the monthe in which the world bigan
    That highte March, whan God first maked man,
    Was complet, and passed were also
    Syn March bigan thritty dayes and two

There are other assumptions that blame the solar equinox that usually come around March 21st every year bringing absurd behavior in people, making them act unwise and insane.

April Fools' Celebrations

April Fools’ is celebrated uniquely and differently across the world, but the sole purpose of this day is to make a fool out of others. A victim of April Fools' in France is called poisson d’avril, which translates to ‘April fish’, or a fish that is easily caught. People pin a paper fish on others’ backs without their notice to call them so.

In Scotland, April Fools’ Day is celebrated as Gowk Day, with the cuckoo, or gowk being used as a symbol of foolishness.

Brazil celebrates ‘Dia da Mentira’ as Fools’ Day where people play pranks and jokes on their loved ones, all in the spirit of fun and joy.