April Fool's Day is observed annually in most countries on April 1. On this day, believing even a close one is not advisable, because you never know the tricks you are going to fall victim to. It has been celebrated for centuries by different cultures and exact origin of the day is not known. While there are many theories about the origin of April Fool's Day, it is believed that Pope Gregory XIII was the man behind it.

In Scotland, April Fool's Day became a two-day event in which people send start "hunting the gowk" (gowk means cuckoo bird, a symbol for a fool). It involves different pranks and games. In today's times, on April Fool's Day people play light-hearted pranks with friends, colleagues, and family.  However, hoaxes and bluff have become a part of it with people going upto extends for fun. Even newspapers and websites join the celebrations with fake headlines and photos.

Adoption of the Gregorian calendar

Pope Gregory XIII adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582 and thus the beginning of the year changed from the April 1 to January 1. The change was notified to everyone through various means. While France adopted the change, many Europeans did not follow the new date and continued with the celebrations on April 1 as the Julian calendar. Eventually, to stop the practice, those who celebrated the day on April 1 were referred to as fools. The day eventually came to be known as Fool's Day.

Here are equally popular April Fool's Day origin theories:

Historians have also linked April Fools’ Day to festivals such as Hilaria, which was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of March and involved people dressing up in disguises. There’s also speculation that April Fools’ Day was tied to the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere when Mother Nature fooled people with changing the unpredictable weather.

French revolution

King George III of England made a joke by pretending to step down after the French deposed King Louis XVI. April 1 is celebrated as the anniversary of the French Revolution.

Roman mythology

Pluto, the God of the Dead in Roman Mythology abducted Proserpina and took her to the underworld. From there Proserpina pleaded for help from her mother Ceres but Ceres could only hear her daughter's voice. The search which went in vain could have become a celebration. It is said that 'fool's errand' came from this fruitless search.

In ancient Rome at the end of March, people disguise themselves for a festival known as Hilaria. It is also said that April Fool's Day is related to the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere when Mother Nature changed its weather thus showing its unpredictability.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 28, 2018 05:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).