KUALA LUMPUR: Every celebration has its own special day. So, how did celebrating foolishness earn its own?
April 1 or April Fool's Day is dedicated to celebrating pranks and silliness.
Whether you're the prankster or the victim, it is all done in good fun.
Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582.
In that year, France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, called for by the Council of Trent in 1563.
However, some people were slow to get the news or they did not realise that the start of the new year had moved to January 1.
As a result, they continue to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1, and so became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish).
It is said to symbolise a young, easily caught fish and a gullible person.
Other theories related to April Fool's Day were the Canterbury Tales, which tells the story of a cock that tricked a fox.
April Fool's Day is also attributed to a poem written by Flemish poet Eduard de Dene, which pictures the story of a master who played a prank on his servant by making him do a silly errands for the whole day.
April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain during the 18th century and in modern times, people have put in much effort to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes.
When was the last time you remembered pranking someone or being pranked at?