Happy April Fool’s Day!

Watch out and beware of all phone calls, social media posts, and advertisements. Today is Saturday April 1, 2017, also known as April Fool’s Day. This is the day when pranksters rejoice and tomfoolery is rampant, so be on alert. How did this holiday get started in the first place?

The origin of April Fool’s Day is largely a mystery; however, some historians want to date the holiday back to 1582 France. It is believed that that year the French switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The news of the change was apparently very slow getting to everyone in the country. Many were still celebrating the old New Year, which in the Julian calendar was celebrated until the end of March. These people who did not know about the New Year changing to January 1st with the Gregorian calendar were the butt of many jokes. People started a tradition of playing jokes on and tricking each other on this day.

Other historians tie the day to the Ancient Roman festival of Hilaria, and others still associate it with the first day of nature, with Mother Nature fooling the rest of us into uncontrollable weather. Regardless, the holiday spread to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and became immensely popular. The Scottish like the holiday so much that they celebrate it for two days.

Today, April Fool’s Day can be celebrated a number of ways. We all usually see them in fake Facebook posts and Google advertising something crazy for the day. The holiday still pulls its share of pranksters and their unsuspecting victims. Keep yourselves aware today: you never know what’s out there! Happy April Fool’s Day from the Jefferson County Post!

Source: Elizabeth Lane, Jefferson County Post Staff Writer