How Did April Fools' Day Start?

April Fools’ Day is observed annually in most countries on April 1. It’s a day for playing practical jokes on friends and family that has been around for centuries. In some ways, April Fools’ Day resembles other ancient spring festivals, like Holi, a celebration of the Hindu god Krishna that involves throwing colored water and colorful powders on others, and the Hilaria, an ancient Roman day of merriment that honored the gods Cybele and Attis. Even so, no one really knows the origin of April Fools’ Day. Some people have ideas, of course. Perhaps it began in 16th-century France when January 1 was declared the first day of the New Year instead of Easter and those who clung to the old date were “April Fools.” Or perhaps it’s related to the vernal equinox, a time when people are fooled by sudden changes in the weather. Either way, what we do know is how April Fools’ Day is celebrated around the world today. In France a fooled person is called a poisson d’avril, or “April fish,” and children pin paper fishes to each others’ backs. In Scotland the holiday is called Gowkie Day in reference to the gowk, a bird that represents the fool and the butt of jokes. In some countries, newspapers even participate, running fake headlines to try to fool the public.