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It’s almost April Fools’ Day – The one day a year when you shouldn’t trust what anyone around you says or does. Ever wonder where this strange tradition came from? There’s no one definitive answer but historians have some theories.
Some speculate that it dates back to the sixteenth century when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The old calendar marked April first as new year’s day, but the new system moved it to January first. Back then, news didn’t travel quickly so many people kept celebrating the wrong date and these groups were mocked and known as ‘April fools’.
Other historians theorize that the holiday stems from the vernal equinox which marks the first day of spring. The name April fools day took hold because the changing seasons during this period often meant unpredictable weather with sunny skies one minute and pouring rain the next.
Regardless of how it began, April fools day has been around for more than five hundred years and is still going strong today. If you’re planning a prank this year, remember— keep it fun, harmless, and get them early before they have a chance to realize what day it is.
The post Viewpoints Explained: The Origins Of April Fools Day appeared first on Viewpoints Radio.
