April fools day (also known as All Fools day) is identified to be an annual celebration in most European and Western countries. It is known to be commemorated on the first day of April; on which practical jokes and the spreading of hoaxes are in the centre of attention. This day is not only intriguing for the people but likewise to big organisations such as the European parliament. To many people, it was engrossing to hear that all EU passports were to become dark blue, which is symbolic to the passports that Britain currently has.

With the revolutionary and newfound acceptability of "fake news", it develops the fact that fiction can be more difficult than ever.

But... Have you ever wondered, why do we have an April fools day?

Well, here’s why…

Let’s travel back towards the ancient period.

Originally, ancient cultures which associated with those of Hindus and Romans, were recognized to celebrate New Year’s Day approximately on April the 1st. It intimately espouses the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.)

In medieval times, the majority of Europe celebrated the Feast of Annunciation on 25th March, as the beginning of a new year.

1582 was a year when a person known as ‘Pope Gregory XIII’ ordered a new Gregorian Calendar in order to supplant the antique ‘Julian Calendar’. The new calendar declared that the date of celebration for New Year’s day was to be on Jan 1st. That year, France endorsed the regenerated calendar. By this, it was elementary to shift the date for New Years Day for the 1st of Jan.

In reference to the best-known explanation, several people either refused to accept the change to the date, or did not know about it. As a result, many continued and persisted to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1st . Therefore, the rest of the people who accepted the change to the date, began to make fun of these traditionalists. They attempted to send them on "fool's errands" and tried to trick them into believing something false and fictitious. Eventually, this ‘habit’ propagated throughout the rest of Europe.

April fools day may seem like a ridiculous thing but it helps us develop the positivity at least 1 day a year.

As Rufus Wainwright once said:

“There's no life without humour. It can make the wonderful moments of life truly glorious, and it can make tragic moments bearable”.
 

By Anzelika Gerika, Carshalton High School For Girls