April Fools' Day, celebrated globally on April 1st, is steeped in a history that is difficult to trace. Common customs involve light-hearted pranks and jokes, with participants often exclaiming 'April Fools!' to signal their mischief. Theories regarding its origins include a 1564 calendar shift in France when King Charles IX moved New Year celebrations, as well as the 1582 transition from the Julian to Gregorian calendar. Another suggestion links it to the vernal equinox, a time known for unpredictable weather, which may lead to playful deception.
There are plenty of theories about where this day of pranks and hoaxes came from. It's not clear exactly which one might be true.
One idea is that it dates back to France in 1564, when King Charles IX moved the New Year celebration from its weeklong observance beginning March 25 to a celebration on Jan. 1.
A similar theory ties April Fools' Day to the 1582 change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, which has been used to explain several holidays.
It could be connected to the March 21 vernal equinox, which is known as a day when people are tricked by unexpected weather changes.
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