The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. — Mark Twain
The new financial year begins on April Fool’s Day. But who, when, why, how and where this day has been started is not clear. April Fool’s Day, also known as All Fool’s Day, may have been started just as an extension of other days on which pranks are played in Spanish-speaking countries, like the Roman Festival of Hilaria (March 25) and Medieval feast of Food (December 28).
It is also a fact that in ancient civilisation, New Year used to begin on or around April 1 and speculations are also immense that to start the New Year in a happy mood, April Fool’s Day must have been created.
There is another story behind the origin of April Fool’s Day. It is said that when a change in the annual calendar was brought in; some people refused to accept January 1 as the beginning of the year. They kept on celebrating April 1 as the New Year. Hence, they were later on termed as “Fools” by the ones who proclaimed January 1 as the New Year according to the new calendar.
Though around the world, January 1 has now been accepted and considered as a New Year but still, April Fool’s Day is celebrated with good spirit by playing pranks with friends and family. People try to do all sorts of ridiculous things on this day. All credit goes to prank lovers who have kept this day alive till date and made this an international day.
Scottish people love April Fool’s Day, and so they celebrate it for two days. They call it ‘hunting the gowk’ (the cuckoo), and the second day is known as ‘Taily Day’.
In France, kids tape a paper fish on the back of their friends. When the victim finds the fish, they yell “Poisson d’Avril!” (April Fish!).
In Poland, everyone from media to common man takes part in the celebrations.
In England, ‘fool’ is known by different names according to the part where it is celebrated. If you are fooled on this day, you may be known as ‘noodle’, ‘gob’, ‘gobby’ or ‘noddy’.
This year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Google and other companies won’t be participating in releasing any hoax.
