Many Americans know April Fools’ Day as a lighthearted tradition of jest and play – you might switch out your friend’s Oreo stuffing for toothpaste, rewind your parent’s morning alarm clock, or even fill your sibling’s closet with colorful balloons. But what’s the history behind this widely celebrated holiday?

The Gregorian Calendar

In 1852, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar. This new calendar is actually still in use today and was designed to correct the Julian calendar. The biggest change was the establishment of January 1 as the official start of the new year, instead of April 1.

However, news of the change traveled slowly, and not everyone realized the common use of The Gregorian Calendar right away. So, those who continued to celebrate the new year on April 1st were often the butt of jokes and pranks. They earned the name “April Fools,” and people would play tricks, try to convince them of false stories, and mock them.

The Spread of April Fool’s Day

Luckily, the practice of mocking those unaware of the calendar change has transformed into the tradition of playing pranks and jokes on April 1st across the world. For instance, in France, this holiday is known as “Poisson d’Avril,” which translates to “April Fish.” Kids in France stick paper fish on the backs of their friends, framing them as an “easily caught fish.” Before April Fools’ Day officially arrived in Russia, Slavic people would celebrate the warm weather around the same time by scaring away winter with costumes and disguises. Now, the holiday is hugely popular and jokes are taken very seriously. Many concerts and comedy shows are scheduled for the holiday to guarantee everyone gets in on the laughs.

The story of April Fools’ Day is a great example of how traditions can change over time; What started as a cruel opinion of others transformed into a world-wide tradition of lighthearted jokes and play! This is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate! What about you?