April Fool's Day - Super Sunday

Hey everyone! :) It's 1st of April?! :O Beware of being pranked by somebody! LOL! :D I hope you all are doing great :)

So, I was quite interested in knowing what exactly this day is? I mean I know people play pranks this day, I myself have played many as a kid(LOL!), but still there would be some reason, that why of the whole year, this day is chosen to be so special for the pranksters? I searched through the internet last night to find answer to my query. I could find some, little bit of info, though not too much, but yes, worthy enough to be shared.

To be honest there is no real or 100% correct explanation to this day. All are just small theories made to understand the origin of this day. From an article on National Geographic Website:

April Fools' Day Origins a Mystery

The origins of April Fools' Day are shrouded in mystery, experts say. The most popular theory is that France changed its calendar in the 1500s so that the New Year would begin in January to match the Roman calendar instead of beginning at the start of spring, in late March or early April. However, word of the change traveled slowly, and many people in rural areas continued to celebrate the New Year in the spring. These country dwellers became known as "April fools," the story goes. But Boese, who's studied the holiday's origin, said the "theory is completely wrong, because the day that the French celebrated the beginning of the year, legally, was Easter day, so it never really was associated with April first." "Traditionally it was only a legal start to the year—people in France did actually celebrate [the New Year] on January first for as long as anybody could remember." Boese believes instead that April Fools' Day simply grew out of age-old European spring festivals of renewal, in which pranks and camouflaging one's identity are common. Today in France, April Fools' Day is called le poisson d'Avril—"the April fish"—and a classic prank is to stick a paper fish to an unsuspecting passerby's back.

Fact or Fiction: How About Both?

According to Marc Abrahams, creator of the Ig Nobel Prizes, traditional April Fools' Day fake news is being out-absurded by actual discoveries. Every year the Ig Nobel Prizes in science, medicine, and technology are awarded for research that "first make people laugh, and then make them think." In 2010 prizes went to legitimate research that found a new way to collect whale snot using a remote-controlled helicopter, proved that swearing does indeed relieve pain, and revealed that asthma can be treated with roller coaster rides. "The real stuff is funnier, simply because it is real," said Abrahams. "In that sense, the things that are real and funny are a superior form of April Fools' joke, because you can tell them and people will think you are making it up."

(Source of above 2 quotes - LINK) The main reason why the theory fails is that April Fool's Day is referred to in earlier texts, dating way before the change of the calendar.

In Scotland, April Fool's Day is actually celebrated for two days. The second day is devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. It is called Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me" sign can be traced to this observance.

In France and several other European countries, April 1 is often referred to as April Fish. The prank is to stick a paper fish on the back of another person without being noticed.

Mexico's counterpart of April Fool's Day is actually observed on December 28. Originally, the day was a sad remembrance of the slaughter of the innocent children by King Herod. It eventually evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.

Pranks performed on April Fool's Day range from the simple, (such as saying, "Your shoe's untied, or I accidentally stepped on your glasses!), to the elaborate. Setting a roommate's alarm clock back an hour is a common gag. Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling to his victim, "April Fool!"

Practical jokes are a common practice on April Fool's Day. Sometimes, elaborate practical jokes are played on friends or relatives that last the entire day. The news media even gets involved. For instance, a British short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed documentary about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees.

April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next April Fool!

Traditionally, in some countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Australia, Cyprus, and South Africa, the jokes only last till noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool" and taunted "April Fool's Day's past and gone, You're the fool for making one." Elsewhere, such as in Greece, France, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and the U.S., the jokes last all day. In France and Italy children (and adults, when appropriate) traditionally tack paper fish on each other's back as a trick and shout "april fish!" in their local language ("poisson d'avril!" and "pesce d'aprile!" in French and Italian respectively).

It is worth noting that many different cultures have had days of foolishness around the start of April, give or take a couple of weeks. The Romans had a festival named Hilaria on March 25, rejoicing in the resurrection of Attis. The Hindu calendar has Holi, and the Jewish calendar has Purim. Perhaps there's something about the time of year, with its turn from winter to spring, that lends itself to lighthearted celebrations.

Anyways, enjoy your spring and have fun. Pranks are nice and humorous till the time they don't hurt anybody, or irritate them emotionally. So be cautious and play the Prank-Game safe. Stay safe, be happy. Thanks for reading! :)