1) In 16th Century, when Georgian calendar was adopted leaving Julian calendar, New year was changed from April 1st to January 1st. Even though the New Year date was changed, many people still used to celebrate New Year on April 1st.
So, people used to play pranks and jokes on those who continued to celebrate New Year on April 1st.
2) Some similar April Fools Day events are,
* Hilaria, a Roman Festival where Romans celebrate in honor of Cybele, the mother of the gods. Means no one has to be Sorrow or Sad on that day or in that Season.
* Holi, a Hindu Color festival, where people will play with colors and throw colors on each other. A joyful moment with friends and Family members.
* Feast of Fools, a popular France festival the Middle age where mock bishop or pope was elected, ecclesiastical ritual was parodied, and low and high officials changed places.
3) In the UK, April Fool joke is revealed by shouting April Fool! to the recipient. This not only limited to U.K. as other countries are also revealing in the same way.
4) In U.K. and other countries where April Fool's traditions were derived from U.K., playing jokes or pranks after midday are ceased. The people who play jokes or pranks after midday are April Fools themselves.
5) In Scotland, April Fools' Day was traditionally called 'Huntigowk Day'.
6) In Poland, prima aprilis ("1 April" in Latin) is a day full of Jokes and various hoaxes are prepared by people, media and public institutions.
7) The anti-Turkish alliance with Leopold I signed on 1 April 1683, was backdated to 31 March due to Polland's 'prima aprilis'. This day has that much impact.
8) April 1st or April Fish in Italy, France, Belgium, and French-speaking areas of Switzerland and Canada, celebrate by attaching a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed.
9) April 1st is know differently in different languages like aprilsnar in Danish, poissons d'avril in French and pesce d'aprile in Italian.
10) On the Spanish island of Minorca, Dia d'enganyar (Fooling day) is celebrated on 1st April.
11) In Brazil, the Dia da mentira (Day of the lie) is celebrated on 1st April.
12) The articles which published on that day by major publishers or News organizations will not be taken seriously by most of the people as they think it as a joke.
Similar instance happened when Google announced the launch of Gmail with 1-gigabyte inboxes in 2004 was taken as a joke as other webmail services offered only 4 MB or less storage.
So, above are some of the facts related to 'April Fools Day. If you have any, please share with us.
Sources:
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Discovery
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Feast of Fools - Wikipedia
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Feast of Fools - Britanica
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Hilaria - Britanica
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Hilaria - Wikipedia
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April Fools Day - Wikipedia
