April Fools’ Day 2021: Why April 1st is celebrated as Fool’s Day? History, significance

New Delhi: April 1 marks the official day of playing pranks on each other without any guilt. April 1 is celebrated as April Fool’s Day worldwide now but earlier it was first celebrated in Europe.

The origin of this day dates back to 1582 when France shifted from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The switch took over because France decided to commence their New Year with the Spring Equinox, which takes place around April 1.

It was April 1, as believed, when they changed the 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 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.

The day is celebrated with jokes and laughter and people look forward to this day as it brings joy and happiness. People can get away with almost anything on this day.

Here are some pranks that you can pull off:

Decorate a sponge a piece of cake. Coat it with icing and see if your family members are tempted to take a bite.

Buy a pack of Oreo biscuits and replace its cream with toothpaste.

Put a hilarious message such as “PLEASE HONK. Driver doesn’t know. April Fools’ Day” on the bumper of one of your family member’s car.

Switch the M and N keys on your friend’s keyboard and have fun watching your friend get annoyed at their misspellings.

Change the email signature of your friend and put a new title under their name. For example, “CEO of Dreamland”. Remember that the prank shouldn’t get them fired.

Make your unmutual friends call the victim friend every 30 minutes and ask to speak with XYZ person. The victim will be tired of saying, “There’s nobody named XYZ here. Wrong number!”

Cut out the shape of a bug from black paper and paste it on the inside of a lampshade. Watch your girlfriend switch it on and scream her lungs out. Make sure you don’t give her a panic attack.

Ad a think layer of transparent nail paint to a bar of soap and your girlfriend will be left scrubbing the non-lathering soap. When they call you for a new bar of soap, wish him, “Happy April Fools’!”

Switch the TV to your favourite channel and shut it down. Take the batteries out of every remote in the house to make it impossible to change the channel.