April 1: We celebrate April Fool's Day

Many people like to joke and laugh, but one day a year absolutely everyone does this. There are several versions of why this day is April 1st.

Some attribute the origin of the holiday to Ancient Rome, where in mid-February (and not in early April) they celebrated the Feast of Fools (Festus Fatuorum). There is another version, according to which we owe this holiday to the Neapolitan King Monterey, to whom they presented a fish on the occasion of stopping an earthquake. A year later, the ruler asked for exactly the same fish. However, they could not find such a fish and the cook prepared another one that was very similar to the previous one. And although the king recognized the substitution, he did not get angry, but even rejoiced. Since then, jokes and lies on April 1st have become common.

April Fool's Day is also celebrated in other countries around the world, although not always exactly on April 1st. In different countries, April Fool's Day has its own national flavor. In France, this custom is called "April Fool's Day". Its origin is associated with the time of Charles IX, who in 1564 issued a royal decree ordering the beginning of the year to be moved from January 1st to April 1st. The following year, many of the king's subjects sent their friends New Year's greetings and gifts in April - as a sign of protest or remaining true to tradition. The Sun was then in the constellation Pisces and the French considered the name "April Fool's Day" to be fully worthy of such jokes. The tradition is still alive.

On December 28th, Spain celebrates "Day of the Innocents" (Dia de los Santos Inocentes). On the same date, Spain celebrates "Day of the Fool". It is customary to make jokes of all kinds on this day. Be careful not to drink a salty coffee, because this is a tradition in Spain. In Mexico, this date has also become a real fiesta. On this date in Mexico, nothing is lent - money, jewelry, books. In Peru, you can see dozens of people walking the streets with paper inscriptions on their backs, which immediately turn a person into an object of ridicule. On this day, the media traditionally publishes false information that readers have to discover. The next day, newspapers and television stations reveal which news stories were true and which were false.

In other non-Spanish-speaking countries, this day is called "April Fools' Day" and is celebrated on April 1. In New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa, jokes are only played until noon. Anyone who plays a joke at any other time of day is nicknamed "April Fools". In Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Germany, Canada, and the United States, jokes rule the day. Iranians play jokes on the 13th day of the Persian New Year, which falls on or around April 2. The holiday is called "Sizdah Bedar" or the festival of nature, which has been celebrated since 536 BC. This leads many to believe that April Fool's Day originated from this tradition.

According to the Flemish custom, children lock their parents up and only let them out when they promise to give them a treat. On this day, during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea, the royal family and courtiers were allowed to joke with each other. It was the first snowy day of the year. People would throw snowballs at each other and then make up false excuses. The one hit by the snowball was considered the "loser" and had to fulfill one wish of the person who threw the snowball at them, NOVA reported.

In Poland, this day is filled with jokes, jokes and pranks. Even state institutions allow themselves to lie, and important work is postponed for another day. In Scotland, April 1 is Cuckoo Day, as the bird is a symbol of stupidity there. In Denmark, "April Fools' Day" comes a month late - May 1st and is known as "May-cat". The Danes rarely celebrate on this day. In Germany and Austria, April 1st is considered an unlucky day, and those born on this day are considered unlucky.