<strong>Why is Fools’ Day celebrated on April 1st? </strong>
We celebrate Fool’s Day on 1st April every year. This day is popularly called April Fools’ Day. Have you ever wondered why 1st April is considered to be the Fools’ Day? Or is the entire concept itself a prank? Let us find out.
What is April Fools’ Day?
April Fools’ Day is an annual non-religious holiday in most parts of the world including the USA, Europe, Australia. It is dedicated to practical jokes, pranks and hoaxes. In fact, as part of the long-drawn tradition, pranksters often unmask their jokes by shouting out “April Fools!” loudly at their ‘victims’.
How did April Fools’ Day originate?
The origin of April Fools’ Day is debated. However, according to some sources, the history of this day can be traced back to as early as 16th century. In 1561, a Flemish poet wrote in his comical verse titled “Refrain on errand-day, Which is the First of April” about a gentleman who sends his servant back and forth on ludicrous errands. This was during his preparation for a wedding feast on the 1st of April.
A century later, in 1686, British biographer John Aubrey was the first one to officially regard 1st April as the Fools’ Holiday. In fact, the practice of sending rubes on “fools’ errands” was rampant in the 17th century Europe. In 1698, many got fooled into climbing up to the Tower of London to witness the “washing of lions” only to realise that it was a prank. The following day, local newspapers had to debunk the hoax and even publicly mock the ones who fell for it, making people aware that they need to be on alert on every 1st of April.
This ancient tradition, however, got its footing when in 1708, an anonymous letter published in Britain’s Apollo magazine had an excerpt that read “Whence proceeds the custom of making April Fools?” This became so widespread that it got published every year since then.
According to another school of thought, the custom of April Fools’ Day that is being observed for hundreds of years is a direct influence of an ancient Roman tradition named Hilaria, a spring festival held around 25th March. It continued till 1st April in the honour of the “first day of the year that is longer than the night”. It typically follows vernal equinox on 20th March. As part of this festival, games, processions, and masquerades were held during which disguised commoners used to imitate the nobles and the royals to devious ends a week.
Popular April Fools’ Day customs from around the world
In the United States, 1st April is a national holiday and is celebrated with real pomp and show and revelries. As part of the celebration, children prank parents and vice versa, co-workers unite at the office premises just to prank one another and even national news outlets prank their readers.
In France, people celebrate April Fools’ Day by sticking a paper fish onto the backsides of as many people as possible, be it strangers or friends or family and yelling “Poisson d’Avril!” It translates to “Fool on April” in English. This custom is primarily popular among French kids.
In Greece, people believe that if a prankster is successful in fooling someone on the first day of April, he spends the rest of the year with good luck. They believe that rainfall on 1st April will bring forth healing powers.