But did you know that the origin of April Fools Day is thought to have begun in France? Although some say it started with Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, most likely, the stage was set when King Charles IX of France in 1564 ordered a new calendar to replace the old Julian calendar. The new calendar was then named the Gregorian calendar, and changed the order of the months and moved New Year's Day to January 1. Before the change, the New Year was celebrated on March 25, and ended on April 1.
Perhaps some French resisted the change. Maybe government officials forgot to tell them about it. But they continued to celebrate the New Year during the week of April 1. Those who had already made the change ridiculed them, and sent them fake gifts or invitations to nonexistent parties. The butt of jokes around this time of year, they were called ''fools'' for celebrating New Year's on April 1 instead of January 1. Come to think of it, the entire situation seems very French indeed!
The French eventually adopted April 1 as a new celebration of these very events, and called it Poisson d'Avril meaning ''April Fish'', a term that is used to this day. So why the term ''April Fish''? Because the New Year once coincided with the sun leaving the zodiacal sign of Pisces, the time of year was significant to the New Year's celebration on the old Julian calendar.
In modern day France, Poisson d'Avril is celebrated by children, who often make paper fish and run around taping the fish to their friends' backs, making them a "fool". Once the ''victim'' realizes that he or she has been fooled, the prankster cries out ''Poisson d'Avril!''
Go To Page: 1
