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April 1 is a day for practical jokes in many countries around the world. The simplest jokes may involve children who tell each other that their shoelaces are undone and then cry out “April Fool!” when the victims glance at their feet.

The reason April 1 is April Fool’s Day is probably connected to the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. Before the Gregorian calendar was introduced, people in some parts of Europe celebrated the New Year and exchanged gifts on April 2. New Year’s Day was officially moved to January 1 after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582.

People who forgot about the change were often mocked by their friends, as they continued to make New Year visits just after the old date. Those who failed to keep up with the change and celebrated the New Year during the week that fell between March 25 and April 1 became victims of various jokes. For example, pranksters would discreetly stick paper fish to their backs. The victims of this prank were called Poisson d'Avril, or April Fish.

Another belief on the April Fool's Day origin points to the biblical character Noah as the first “April Fool.” It is said that on April 1, he mistakenly sent the dove out to find dry land before the waters subsided.

A second story tells that the day commemorates when Jesus was sent from Pontius Pilate to Herod and back again. "Sending a man from Pilate to Herod," is an old term for sending someone on a fool's errand.

Practical jokes and pranks date back to Ancient Roman times. Ancient Romans and Celts celebrated a festival of practical joking around the time of the March equinox.