Think about the best April Fools' Day prank you've ever pulled. Maybe it was a little Saran Wrap on the toilet seat? Or, have you ever done something a bit more impactful, like in 2000 when Google claimed they invented mind reading "Mentalplex Technology?" While playing a little trickery is always fun, ever wondered why on April 1 social norms slip away in favor of comedic enjoyment? Luckily, videographer and YouTube video creatorJeremiah Warren created this handy short video explaining the history of the day of fools.
While there are references dating back to the early 1500s, Warren says it's most likely to date back to 1582 in France during the reformation of the calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. On the old calendar, they celebrated New Years from March 25 to April 1. When the switch to the modern-day calendar happened, many people missed the memo (you know, the dispersion of information is a little more difficult without the internet). So, the fools that continued to celebrate New Years on April 1 (or those who refused the calendar switch) were promptly made fun of. This joking (read bullying) turned into a tradition and spread to other countries, catching on to what is now known as April Fools' Day.
Watch below for the full description (with clever illustrations) on "The History of April Fools Day:"