just woundering
2006-11-22 23:20:37 · 4 answers · asked by christine665406 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
The origin of this custom has been much disputed. Many theories have been suggested.
What seems certain is that it is in some way or other a relic of those once universal festivities held at the vernal equinox, which, beginning on old New Years day, the 25th of March, ended on the 1st of April.
It has been suggested that Europe derived its April-fooling from the French. France was one of the first nations to make January 1 officially New Year's Day (which was already celebrated by many), by decree of Charles IX. This was in 1564, even before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar (See Julian start of the year). Thus the New Year's gifts and visits of felicitation which had been the feature of the 1st of April became associated with the first day of January, and those who disliked or did not hear about the change were fair game for those wits who amused themselves by sending mock presents and paying calls of pretended ceremony on the 1st of April. French and Dutch references from 1508 and 1539 respectively describe April Fools' Day jokes and the custom of making them on the first of April.
2006-11-22 23:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by Polo 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
April Fool's History
In the 16th century, France celebrated the New Year just like we do today, except they partied-down on April 1st. In 1562, Pope Gregory changed the calendar to the one we use today and from then on, the New Year began on January 1st. Lots of peeps didn't know about the new calendar, or they ignored the new calendar and kept celebrating on April 1st. Everyone else called them April fools and played tricks on them.
2006-11-23 07:37:23 · answer #2 · answered by ampmsunshine 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is called april fool day because thats the day you fool somebody
2006-11-23 08:06:42 · answer #3 · answered by redacatfish 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Used to be the start of the new year,but the calender changed and people screwed with those who had forgotten.
2006-11-23 07:23:49 · answer #4 · answered by Stannnn 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋