# History of April Fools’ Day

> HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS' DAY Podcast version   pril Fools' Day, or All Fools' Day, is the name given to the custom of playing practical jokes on friends on that day or sending them on fools' errands. The origin of…
> URL: https://billpetro.com/history-of-april-fools-day/
> Last modified: 2026-04-01T03:34:01+00:00

Reading Time:   2 minutes
## [](https://i0.wp.com/www.billpetro.com/wp-content/uploads/April_Fool-747016.jpg?ssl=1)HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS’ DAY

[*Podcast version*](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5IeGkLteIOOMSCRHsdJ1cU?si=d82e4771a11b43de)

 

**April Fools’ Day**, or All Fools’ Day, is the name given to the custom of playing practical jokes on friends on that day or sending them on fools’ errands. The origin of this custom has been much disputed; it is in some way a relic of those once-universal festivities held at the [**vernal equinox**](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-spring), which, beginning with the *old* [New Year’s Day](https://billpetro.com/history-of-new-years-day) celebrations of March 25, ended on April 1.

Another view is that it is a farcical commemoration of Jesus’ [trials](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-trial) during Passion Week in Jerusalem, when he was sent from **Annas**‘ House to **Caiaphas**‘ Palace, to [**Pontius Pilate**](https://billpetro.com/history-of-pontius-pilate)‘s Praetorium, to [**Herod Antipas**](https://billpetro.com/history-of-herod-antipas)‘ Hasmonean Palace, and back to **Pilate** again. These culminated in his crucifixion on [Good Friday](https://billpetro.com/history-good-friday/), which *may* have been April 1.

 

Table of Contents

Toggle
- [April Fools in the U.K.](#April_Fools_in_the_UK)
- [April Fools in France](#April_Fools_in_France)
- [April Fools in the U.S.](#April_Fools_in_the_US)
- [Related](#Related)

### April Fools in the U.K.

The observance of April 1 in the U.K. dates back to ancient times, though it did not become a common custom until the early 1700s. In Scotland, the custom was “*hunting the gowk*,” i.e., the *cuckoo,* and April fools were “April gowks.”

 

### April Fools in France

The French would designate a person as *poisson d’avril*, or April fish, associated with a colorful (but unverifiable) account of calendar reform.

The story goes that in 1564, **Charles IX** of France changed the beginning of the year from the week that fell between March 25th and April 1st, to January 1st. Reputedly, those who refused to make the change would have pranksters surreptitiously affix a paper fish to the laggards’ backs.

 

### April Fools in the U.S.

In the U.S., individuals and employees would concoct elaborate hoaxes and practical jokes on April Fools’ Day. At the old **Sun Microsystems** in Silicon Valley, for example, the size and complexity of these hoaxes were legendary in the 1980s and ’90s, with local television and radio media showing up on April 1 to capture the event.

[](https://i0.wp.com/billpetro.com/wp-content/uploads/wbd-date.jpg?ssl=1)Not surprisingly, some backup companies have sponsored a recent *geek holiday* called [**World Backup Day**](https://billpetro.com/history-of-world-backup-day) on March 31, in response to high-tech pranks, hoping to prevent people from becoming April Fools.

 

*How do you celebrate April Fools’ Day?*

 

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood hysterian

[billpetro.com](https://billpetro.com)

 

*Podcast version*:

[*Subscribe*](http://g003.enterprise.ipost.com/billpetrofriend/prefs) to have future articles delivered to your email. 
 

	
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