April Fools' Day: Unraveling the Origins of the World's Favorite Prank Day

• April Fools' Day, celebrated on April 1st, is a day for jokes and pranks globally, causing stress for some.
• The exact origin is debated, with theories pointing to medieval England, modern France, or ancient Roman spring festivals.
• One theory links it to Geoffrey Chaucer's 1390 poem "The Nun's Priest's Tale," mentioning an event on April 1st.
• Most historians attribute its origin to France in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, shifting New Year's Day from April 1st to January 1st.
• Those who continued celebrating New Year on April 1st were mocked as 'April Fish' (Poisson d'Avril), leading to the tradition.