The first of April isn't just another ordinary day. Also known as April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day . It is celebrated in a number of countries including America, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. The origin of April Fool's Day is actually any body's guess, but it is known that it came to England from France or Germany in the mid 17th century. At one time April 1st coincided with the New Year and was celebrated as such until 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII ordered the new Gregorian Calendar to replace the Julian Calendar. With there being no computers, telephones and other speedy forms of communicating, word did not travel very fast in those days and therefore many people continued to celebrate New Years Day on April 1st, while some rebelled against this change in their old traditions. With some embracing a new system and others fighting progress it is thought that those following the new system mocked the others who were behind the times and
FOLKLORE, FACTS AND FEATURES ABOUT HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD