The most widely accepted reason by April Fool's Day is believed to have come from The French during the 16th century when the New Year was observed on April 1st. Pope Gregory changed the calendar in 1562 and New Year was moved to January 1st. Since word didn't get around quite as quickly back then, there were many who did not know and continued celebrating April 1st as the New Year. Some would play tricks on them, calling them an "April Fool". Or still yet another theory: It began at the same time around the world as a celebration of the spring equinox.

The French call the victim of a practil joke "poisson d'Avril", which means 'fish of April'. In April, the fish have just hatched making them easy to catch. French youth fool friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs


India
• The feast of Huli happens in March, ending on March 31 which is marked with acts of mischief much like April Fool's Day.


Scotland
• The celebration lasts for two days in Scotland. The second day is known as "Taily Day" where pranks involving the rear end are involved. The brunt of the joke is called "hunting the gowk". A gowk is the extinct cuckoo bird.


Spain/Mexico
• The Spanish hold Dia de los Santos Inocentes (The Feast of the Holy Innocents) on December 28th. It is celebrated like April Fool's Day with jokes and gags. It began, however, as a day for Christian to mourn Herod's slaughter of innocent children. With time it changed from a sad day to a fun day.


USA
• Like much of the world, the US celebrates this day with follies. Common jokes include putting salt in sugar bowls and setting clocks behind an hour.

Happy New Year Gilly Harold - OLD STYLE
What was your reference for the information
NOT Querying it just want to know where you found it

Somerville and Ross named one of their "Irish R.M." stories "Poisson D'Avril". They were female Irish cousins who started this series of humorous stories around the turn of the 20th century. tjoeb};>

April Fools Day is a "for-fun-only" observance. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their "significant other" out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It's simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant, for he may be the next April Fool!

Around here, it is said it only lasts til NOON!
Don't know why. About the "gowk" hunt...I've heard similar hijinks, but in these parts it was called a "snipe"!

One of the better stories I've heard was told to a new part time teenaged employee at a large grocery store...He was asked to get the "aisle stretcher" and get busy! ???