The origins of April Fools’ Day are uncertain, but one theory links it to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. People who didn’t get the memo and continued celebrating the New Year in April were mocked as “April fools.”
Over time, practical jokes and pranks became associated with the date, and by the 18th century, the tradition had spread across Europe and beyond. Today, media outlets and companies join in the fun by creating elaborate hoaxes—keeping the spirit of trickery alive!
