aPRIL fOOLS dAY!

Have you ever wondered where this silly "holiday" comes from? I should have asked myself that question yesterday, before my two curious children woke up this morning and asked. I didn't know what to say, so I decided today, I'd find out. This is what I found.....
Unlike most other "nonfoolish" holidays, the history of April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, in not clear. There is no specific year the "first April Fool's Day" took place. Some believe it sort of evolved in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring. However, the closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this so called holiday was in 1582, in France. Before 1582, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25 and ending on April 1. With the restructuring of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Years Day was moved to January 1.
Communications being what they were in the days, many people did not receive the news for several years. The more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These people were labeled as "fools" by the general public. They were subject to ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes. This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. It eventually was introduced to the American colonies. April Fool's Day thus developed into an international fun fest.
April Fool's Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next April Fool!
"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." -- Mark Twain