In Graphics | Why is April Fools' Day celebrated on 1 April?

Every year 1 April is celebrated as April Fools’ Day.

People play tricks on their friends, family, and even strangers in public places, often with the intention of making others laugh or smile. The day is marked by harmless pranks, amusing hoaxes, and general silliness, with many media outlets and businesses joining in the fun by fabricating fake news stories or product launches.

One popular theory suggests that April Fool’s Day dates back to the 16th Century when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as ordered by the Council of Trent in 1563.

The Julian calendar marked the start of the new year with the spring equinox on 1 April. However, with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the start of the new year was moved to 1 January. People who continued to celebrate the new year on 1 April were called “April fools” and were frequently the target of jokes and pranks.

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Another theory links April Fools’ Day to ancient Roman festivals like Hilaria, which were held near the end of March. These festivals featured masquerades and pranks, resulting in a tradition of playful deception that may have influenced the modern celebration of April Fool’s Day.

While the exact origin of April Fool’s Day remains unclear, it is widely popular around the world.

Here are some interesting things to know about “Fools’ Day.”