April Fools’ Day is a tradition that was created right here in the heart of Berkeley, in The Daily Californian’s office during the production of a paper in 1871. Ever since, it’s been one of the most celebrated unofficial holidays here on campus.

Just kidding. This is absolutely incorrect. April Fools!

Although the origin of April Fools had nothing to do with Berkeley, it is true that April Fools is a tradition that has a place in many different cultures and has been celebrated all around the world for centuries. Even though its true origins remain to be quite a mystery to this day, it doesn’t stop anyone from partaking in any April foolery.

Even though its true origins remain to be quite a mystery to this day, it doesn’t stop anyone from partaking in any April foolery.

So, what exactly is April Fools? Every year, on the first day of April, many individuals participate in pranks or hoaxes and yell “April Fools!” soon after to indicate the end of their joke. Over time, the custom has been adopted by the media and communities all around to be celebrated as an unofficial holiday. 

To understand how this tradition gained such traction and popularity, let’s first go back in time to what was considered the beginning paradigms of the first April Fools. One of the earliest documented celebrations dates back to Hilaria, a joyful ancient Roman festival. This festival took place at the end of March when the followers of the cult of Cybele came together to dress up in various imitations and disguises to celebrate the resurrection of Attis — the vegetation god. His resurrection was linked to the return of spring because Attis represents the “fruits of the Earth” which die in the winter, but are reborn again in the spring. Because of this symbolism, Attis held great importance for the Roman people of the time; his resurrection meant sufficient resources, and thus survival. It was worth celebrating. 

One of the earliest documented celebrations dates back to Hilaria, a joyful ancient Roman festival.

However, this isn’t the only account of the custom’s early days. Some historians have theorized that the switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1582 France could be the origin of April Fools. This transition was made official in 1563 by the jurisdiction of the Council of Trent. Following this announcement and similar to the Hindu calendar, the Julian calendar began the new year around the spring equinox, which is right around April 1. There were some who weren’t informed of this change and got extremely confused once it took place. Unfortunately, these people became the target of many jokes. If you were to celebrate the new year in April, rather than January, then you would be perceived as a “fool,” which is exactly what happened to these unaware people. 

Yet, this is still only one of many theories concerning the origins of April Fools. There has also been speculation that the day’s origins came from the vernal equinox, which is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This term refers to a moment when the sun aligns right above the equator and day and night become equal in length. Back then, people were under the impression that it was Mother Nature who was responsible for the unpredictability of the weather. The effects of day and night at equal lengths affected weather patterns, fooling those who lived in the general area with the weather change. 

So even though historians aren’t able to exactly pinpoint where and when this custom originated, the combination of these acts that are considered to be “foolish” and the time period being around the equinox is how we likely got the name “April Fools.”  

So even though historians aren’t able to exactly pinpoint where and when this custom originated, the combination of these acts that are considered to be “foolish” and the time period being around the equinox is how we likely got the name “April Fools.”  

In the 18th century, April Fools started spreading throughout Britain and across Europe. Though it changed in certain ways during the process, it has managed to survive even to the modern day. The types of jokes and their intensity vary greatly between different countries. In France, for example, even the name of the day is slightly different; April Fools in France is referred to as Poisson D’Avril, which means “April fish.” This is based on a popular joke where an unsuspecting person is fooled by pinning a paper fish on their back. This was originally a reference to young fish being easily caught and why those who were “fooled” were thus called poisson d’avril, “April fish.” In Scotland, on the other hand, jokes can require more preparation. A popular Scottish April Fools joke involves sending individuals on a two-day-long conquest where they have to do fake errands, commonly known as “hunting the gowk.” 

April Fools isn’t the holiday I’m waiting in anticipation for every year, but I must recognize the important place it has in our society, to the point where it will even influence communication and news channels.

Though there are certainly cases where April Fools jokes are taken to the extremes and can be dangerous, when carried out in moderation, this day can be wonderful. What’s beautiful about it, for me, is that it brings out everyone’s inner child, the parts of our subconscious that hold thoughts and emotions without necessarily being able to process or rationalize them. Growing up, I’ve realized that more often than not, many of us find ourselves caught up in the efforts to be successful, whether it’s in our social life, work life or elsewhere. We become distracted and start making sacrifices and sometimes our inner child takes the hit. We neglect it, we forget to take a breath and appreciate what we have without overthinking. So, as the day of “foolery” approaches, many people are reminded of their inner child which had been forgotten for so long amid the process of growing up. April Fools provides a chance to reclaim one’s inner child, even if it’s just for a day.     

What’s beautiful about it, for me, is that it brings out everyone’s inner child, the parts of our subconscious that hold thoughts and emotions without necessarily being able to process or rationalize them.

The unofficial holiday known as April Fools’ Day has come a long way. What may have begun as a mockery of those who were uninformed or unaware of certain events is now a highly awaited tradition, an opportunity to laugh and make your friends smile. Amid the craziness in our lives, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to have a nice laugh every once in a while, whether you change the time on your friend’s clock or scheme a goofy event that you convince your friend they forgot about. As April Fools’ Day approaches, perhaps take a moment to harmlessly fool some of your loved ones, but be careful: They might fool you first!