April Fool's Day 2021: History, significance and why it is celebrated

April Fool's Day is celebrated on April 1 every year and the day is filled with jokes and laughter and is looked forward to for all the happiness it generates. It is that one day in the year when people can get away with almost anything.

According to History.com, some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. April Fool’s Day traditions are playing pranks or cracking practical jokes on each other and screaming ‘’April Fools!” at the end of the clue. It is not a public holiday in any country, except in Odessa in Ukraine. 

It was April 1, as believed, when the change of calendar from Julian to Gregorian was initiated, hence making it the most commonly believed reason for celebrating the day. Reportedly, while many refused to accept the change and continued following the Julian calendar, France was the first country to accept and implement the new calendar.

As per historians, the day started being celebrated after Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, and ruled that the new calendar would start from January 1 back in 1952. Prior to this, New Year used to be celebrated in March-end.

As per History.com, the forgetful ones who celebrated New Year on April 1 were mocked on the day and had paper fish stuck on their backs, indicating that they were fools or easily hooked.