April Fool`s Day

April Fools' Day has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, but its exact origins are difficult to find. There is a common story that when Pope Gregory XIII changed the Julian calendar to the Gregorian one in the 16th century, New Year was moved from April 1st to January 1st. Lots of people didn`t know about it or they ignored the new calendar and kept celebrating on April 1st. Everyone else called them April fools and played tricks on them.

This story was almost certainly invented afterwards. The adoption of the new calendar was actually a very slow process, taking over a century, and in England it wasn't adopted after April Fools' day was already a tradition in the 18th century. Of course, there are some other explanations coming from Ancient Rome and France. But they are just nice stories which probably were made up many years ago.

Nevertheless, the tradition has become very well rooted in modern culture. April Fools' Day is not a legal holiday but it is celebrated all around the world as a day filled with practical jokes and general silliness. People become suspicious of every little thing thinking it might be a prank or hoaxes because jokes can range from a classic harmless "Kick me" note on a person`s back to something creative or even dangerous.

It`s usually teens and young adults who enjoy pulling pranks on others. TV and radio stations also like fooling their audiences. For example, some years ago the BBC made up a story about Britain suddenly having a new national anthem with all the words in German. During this day, the Internet is full of lies and misunderstandings too. You can easily fall for online hoaxes such as emails from strange people or African princess/princes promising you something or inviting you.

Nevertheless, it`s a good day to have some fun.  But if you think of pulling a prank on somebody, make sure that it`s not cruel because it`s always much better to laugh with your friends, not at them.