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April 7, 2009
by Johnny Li
Every April 1, people from countries all around the world, including America, Britain and France, celebrate April Fool’s Day by playing practical jokes on others. Despite this long-standing tradition, its origins still remain a mystery.
According to National Geographic, the most widely accepted belief is that in the sixteenth century, France changed its calendar. Its citizens began to celebrate the New Year in January instead of late March or early April. Many people who lived in rural areas were unaware of the change, so they were called “April fools.”
Alex Boese, the curator of the Museum of Hoaxes in San Diego, offered his own theory. He believed the holiday simply grew out of the age-old European spring renewal festivals, in which pranks were a common part of festivities.
“I never knew that there was so much history behind April Fool’s Day. I thought it was just something that some kids had made up for fun,” senior Victor Ranu said.
