April Fools Day [All Fools Day]

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.

Back in the early 1500s people celebrated New Year from March 25th because it was then the advent of spring and, for an agrarian society, it was indeed the start of their 'new year'. This then was their big time of celebration and it went on for eight days and they partied right up to April 1st when, we suppose, they all had their 'hair of the dog' and went back to work on their own New Year's Day.

Origins | Time for a change | Fool's Errands
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