April Fool's Day

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On this day, it is traditional to play practical jokes on people - but only up to 12 noon in many countries. After this time, superstition has it that the joke will rebound on the prankster. Beware! It is becoming increasingly common for hoaxes (including viruses, both real and fake) to be played on the internet on this day.

All Fools' Day is believed to have originated in France. Until the Gregorian calendar was introduced in France in 1564, April 1st was the day on which almost everybody celebrated the New Year. The tradition of pranking is believed to have started in France at that time. Many people refused to recognise the new date, and still insisted on celebrating on the date they had always used. These traditionalists were mocked by the progressives of the time, were sent on fool's errands, and generally played jokes on.

When England also accepted the Gregorian calendar, about a hundred years later, the tradition was well-established in France, and quickly spread across the Channel and on to all parts of the United Kingdom and its colonies.

The old Scottish name is Huntigowk Day, from the tradition of sending the Fool from one place to another (to another...) to hunt for a cuckoo ('gowk'):

It's said that Scots also used to play jokes on people on 2nd April - Taily Day, as they called it, but only jokes connected with bottoms! Apparently, this is where the 'kick me' sign originated.

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