Today is April Fool's Day, a holiday celebrating practical jokes of all kinds. The British collection of folk wisdom known as Poor Robin's Almanac (1662) says:
"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."
One theory about the origin of April Fool's Day is that it started in France in 1582. Up until then, New Year's Day was celebrated on April 1, but when Europe adopted the Gregorian Calendar, New Year's Day was moved to January 1. At the time, news of such things traveled slowly, and it took many years for everyone to get up to speed. People who continued to celebrate New Years on April 1 came to be known as April Fools.
"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."
One theory about the origin of April Fool's Day is that it started in France in 1582. Up until then, New Year's Day was celebrated on April 1, but when Europe adopted the Gregorian Calendar, New Year's Day was moved to January 1. At the time, news of such things traveled slowly, and it took many years for everyone to get up to speed. People who continued to celebrate New Years on April 1 came to be known as April Fools.