April Fools Day or All Fools Day
by Bob Crookes

Origins
We are still uncertain about the origins of celebrating April 1st as April Fools Day or All Fools Day although it is now generally accepted that it originated in France in the 16th century.
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Time for a change
However in 1564 the French king of the time Charles IX decided they were going to adopt the Gregorian calendar and that, in future, New Year's Day would be celebrated on 1st January - no longer would it be held at the start of spring.
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Fool's Errands
So the French started it and by the 18th century it was widespread in Britain and the various emigrants to the Americas introduced it over there.
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Tricks old and new
My own mother carried on a tradition handed down through her family by wearing something black - usually a sweater - but she had carefully threaded through the wool a short length of white cotton, leaving about two inches resting on her shoulder.
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Try your own
Do you work in an office with speed dial phones? Reprogramme someone's most used numbers to a 'dial-a-prayer' number.
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