APRIL FOOLS' DAY: ORIGIN AND HISTORY

APRIL FOOLS' DAY: ORIGIN AND HISTORY

April Fools' Day, sometimes called All Fools' Day, is one of the most light-hearted days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of a new calendar. Ancient cultures, including those of the Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on or around April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. That year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year's day to Jan. 1. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.

Here's a list of funny April Fools Day jokes and pranks parents can play on their children from kidsplayandcreate.com:

1. The night before April Fools day put googey eyes on everything in the refrigerator. The kids will open the refrigerator in the morning and be very surprised.

2. Toilet paper everything in their room while they are at school or if your real good you can do it while their sleeping. If you don't want to do the entire room toilet paper their beds or dresser.

3. The night before pour some milk into a cereal bowl and put it in the freezer for the night. In the morning take the bowl out of the freezer fill it with cereal and more milk. When they put their spoon in they will notice it's half frozen!

4. Do the cereal change up. Take two boxes of cereal and change the contents inside. When they pour the cereal it will be different.

5. Weird Milk! Add a couple of drops of food coloring in the milk. When the kids go to use it, it will be green, blue pink or whichever color you use.

6. Mash Potato Mix Up- Add some food coloring to your children's mash potatoes. They get a kick out of some purple or green mash potatoes.

7. Rising Pancakes! This one requires kids help. Add quick acting dry yeast to the pancake batter. Have the kids help make the pancakes. While they are cooking the pancakes will rise and get bigger and rise and get bigger.

8. This one is good for little boys. Pour some baking soda in the toilet. When your little guy goes to use the bathroom in the morning it will fuzz up.

9. Underwear line! Safety pin 7-10 pairs of your child's underwear. Then put them back in their drawer. When your child goes to get dressed in the morning and pulls one pair of underwear out the rest will follow.

10. Make a small hole in an apple. Stick a gummy worm in it. While your kids are eating the apple they will notice the wormy surprise.