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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat is the origin of April Fools’ Day?<\/p>\n
April Fools’ Day is celebrated annually on April 1. Here are some facts you probably didn\u2019t know about the unofficial holiday.<\/p>\n
unbranded – Lifestyle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/story-highlights> The beginning of April for the United States means a full day of jokes and pranks for everyone, but this tradition goes back much further than you may expect.<\/p>\n April Fools’ Day, which takes place on April First, has been around for several centuries and has roots that may be even older. Although the holiday is mostly celebrated in English-speaking countries, it is a well-known event worldwide.<\/p>\n April Fools’ pranks can range from harmless jokes to national headlines, so make sure to examine everything with a close eye on April 1.<\/p>\n Here’s what to know about the history of April Fools’ Day and how it became the modern holiday.<\/p>\n As with most old traditions, there is no clear date for when the holiday began, but historians debate a few theories.<\/p>\n According to the History Channel<\/a>, some historians believe that April Fools’ Day began in 1582 when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Those who continued to celebrate the new year on April 1 instead of January 1 were called \u201cApril fools.\u201d Common pranks included placing paper fish on their backs, known as \u201cpoisson d\u2019avril,\u201d to symbolize gullibility.<\/p>\n Historians also relate April Fools’ Day to Hilaria, a\u00a0joyful\u00a0festival in ancient Rome, celebrated\u00a0at the end of March by followers of the cult of Cybele. Participants dressed in disguises and mocked others, including magistrates, drawing inspiration from the Egyptian legend of Isis, Osiris, and Seth.<\/p>\n Other historians speculate that April Fools’ Day is linked to the\u00a0vernal equinox, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when unpredictable weather fooled people.<\/p>\n April Fools’ Day may have originated in the 1500s or even earlier, but it gained significant popularity in Britain during the 18th century, particularly after\u00a0Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752. According to the History Guild<\/a>, the earliest recorded April Fools’ Day prank in Britain occurred in 1698, \u00a0when people in London were told to go see the annual ceremony of the\u00a0washing of the lions\u00a0at the\u00a0Tower of London.<\/p>\n As Britain spread its customs worldwide, April Fools\u2019 Day gained popularity, especially in America. In the 20th century, mass media allowed corporations to participate, enhancing the day’s appeal. Companies recognized the marketing potential of elaborate pranks, which attracted attention and free publicity. This blend of corporate humor and media involvement solidified April Fools’ Day as a global phenomenon.<\/p>\n People have increasingly created elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes, with newspapers, radio and TV stations, and websites reporting outrageous fictional claims that fool their audiences. Restaurants have also gotten in on the fun in the past.<\/p>\n In 1996, Taco Bell announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the\u00a0Taco Liberty Bell.<\/a><\/p>\n In 1998, Burger King advertised a\u00a0Left-Handed Whopper,<\/a>\u00a0prompting many “clueless customers” to ask for the fake sandwich.<\/p>\n Google hosts an annual April Fools’ Day prank<\/a>\u00a0that has included everything from \u201ctelepathic search\u201d to the ability to play Pac-Man on Google Maps.<\/p>\n\n
When did April Fools’ Day originate?<\/h2>\n
Why do we celebrate April Fools’ Day?<\/h2>\n
April Fools’ Day in the modern era<\/h2>\n
What countries celebrate April Fools’ Day?<\/h2>\n