April Fools day
The April Fools Day or All Fools Day dated on the first of April every year is marked for playing pranks and making fool of known and unknowns. In contradiction with other popular world known days, this one does not reveal much about its conception though.
History
The origin of this custom has been much disputed, and many theories have been suggested, e.g. that it is an outlandish remembrance of Christ being sent from Ananus to Caiaphas, from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod and then from Herod back again to Pilate, the crucifixion having taken place around the 1st of April.
However, the only truth known about the April Fools day is that before Gregorian calendar came into being in 1564, this date was experiential as a New Year's Day by civilizations varied like chalk and cheese, for e.g.: the Romans and the Hindus. Another certainty is that it is in some way or the other a remnant of once universal festivities held at the vernal equinox, which began on old New Year's Day i.e. the 25th of March, ended on the 1st of April.
Activities
The day is marked by being flippant through hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sorts on acquaintances, or sending them on false tasks, with the one and only intention of making the prey shy more and more. Also In some countries, April Fools jokes are only made before midday.
Tradition
There are also hearsays about a possibility that the French gave the Europeans its April-fooling day. France was also one of the leading nations to make January 1 a New Year's Day officially in the charge of Charles IX and much before the Gregorian calendar. Thus all the traditions and customs associated with the New Years day as on 1st of April went on to the first day of January. However, and those who did not welcomed the idea or were not very openly aware of the change were the most probable game for those who wanted to please themselves by beating their own trumpet by sending mock presents and paying calls of bogus ceremonies on the 1st of April.
The All Fools day tradition in France is also identified as Poisson D'avril meaning April's Fish. It beholds the custom of trying to give a shot by attaching a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed. In Italy , the term April's fish is used as a reference to any jokes cracked during the day.
Other fools days in rest of the world
April 1 maintains its sanity and importance in the Australia , Canada , New Zealand and United Kingdom , with the only exception that tricks are only welcomed after 1200 hours and surprisingly the person pulling off the trick is actually considered the fool.
April 3—the 13th day of the Persian calendar New Year known as Norouz—is the day for fooling around in Iran . The day is called Sizdah bedar or Outdoor thirteen when translated. It is customary for residents to go out on this date if they want to escape the bad omen of unlucky number 13.
December 28—the Day of the Holy Innocents—is celebrated as an official day to play pranks in Spanish-speaking countries. This custom also finds it presence in certain regions of Belgium , including the province of Antwerp . Quite strangely, according to a Flemish tradition, children lock out their parents or teachers and let them in only when they bring in treats the same evening or the next day.