It’s April Fools’ Day.
Celebrated annually on April 1, the holiday is known for its pranks, jokes and laughs, whether shared in real life or over social media. Today, the tradition is celebrated all around the world by people of all different ages, but exactly when and how did the custom start?
Here’s a brief history of how April Fools’ Day came to be.
When did April Fools’ Day start?
While it is widely believed that April Fools’ Day may have roots back in ancient Rome or Britain, clear references to the April tradition do not appear until the late Middle Ages, according to Stephen Winick of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center.
The first straightforward reference to April Fools’ Day comes from a 1561 Flemish poem by Eduard De Dene, which describes a servant realizing a nobleman sent him on “fool’s errands” because it was April 1. This poem tells that April Fools’ Day was likely established in the 1500s, but exactly how the holiday started remains unclear.
One popular theory is that the tradition started when France changed their calendar from Julian to Gregorian, thus changing the celebration of a new year from late March to January 1 – a transition that swept the country throughout the 1500s and was officially signed into law by King Charles IX in 1564.
According to legend, those who failed to recognize the change of the new year continued to celebrate in late March and early April, leading others to call them “April fools” and pull pranks. In this theory, early versions of April Fools’ pranks included sending foolish gifts and invitations to non-existent parties.
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How to celebrate April Fools’ Day 2025
Over the years, the tradition of April Fools’ Day has grown into spreading misinformation or pulling harmless pranks on friends, family or colleagues.
The rise of social media and the internet also allows for many viral April Fools’ Day pranks, whether from a celebrity, company or news outlet. Viral April Fools’ hoaxes from recent years include Dunkin’ changing its name to Donuts’ and actor Chris Pratt announcing he would voice Mickey Mouse in an upcoming Disney film.
