Americans celebrate April Fools Day on April 1st every year. It is celebrated as well in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Ireland. France and Scotland also have a special take on the holiday as well. France partakes in “Poisson d’Avril” and Scotland “Hunt-the-Gowk Day.” It surely doesn’t stop here! People from all around the world dabble in April Fools too! But what exactly is the holiday?

Well I’m glad you asked! April Fools is a day of tricks, jokes, pranks, and laughs. People will do stunts to prank their friends, family, or even strangers! It is perceived as a day of fun and slight teasing.

The thing is, April Fools is literally a joke in itself. There is no known origin! However, there is a theory that in the 16th century when the Gregorian calendar was in new use, and France decided the new year would be January 1st instead of April 1st, people who stuck to the old calendar were ridiculed and picked on. This sparked the tradition as we know it. The one and only, April Fools.

April Fools is also to be said to mimic the festivals of Hilaria in Ancient Rome and Holi, a festival in India.

Looking at the concept of April Fools, there are many myths on how the holiday came to be. But then again, no matter where it came from there is one simple conclusion, the end goal is to be the funniest one in the room and do a hilarious prank that absolutely no one can top.