"The first of April, some do say,
Is set apart for All Fools' Day.
But why the people call it so, Nor I, nor they themselves do know.
But on this day are people sent On purpose for pure merriment."
--Poor Robin's Almanac (1790)
Many believe that up until the mid-sixteenth century, France celebrated the new year on April 1. But in 1562, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new calendar to the Christian world, which changed the date of the new year to January 1. Of course, they didn't have email back then, so word traveled slowly and some people continued to celebrate on April 1. These poor, misinformed souls were referred to as "April Fools" and had tricks played on them.
--Poor Robin's Almanac (1790)
Many believe that up until the mid-sixteenth century, France celebrated the new year on April 1. But in 1562, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new calendar to the Christian world, which changed the date of the new year to January 1. Of course, they didn't have email back then, so word traveled slowly and some people continued to celebrate on April 1. These poor, misinformed souls were referred to as "April Fools" and had tricks played on them.
According to another version, Charles IX introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1564, changing the date of the new year. The "April Fools" tradition was then passed on to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century and eventually made its way to the American colonies.
Take a look at some of these April Fool stories - do you think they are fact or fiction?
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