Watch out, it's April 1

9:00am Tuesday 1st April 2008

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APRIL Fool's Day has its origin in France and came about when the Gregorian calendar was adopted in the 16th century.

New Year's Day switched from being April 1 to January 1. Word of the new calendar spread slowly and those who did not know about it or who forgot the change or ignored it and attempted to celebrate New Year on the wrong date were teased as April fools.

They were ridiculed by being sent foolish gifts and invitations to non-existent parties.

French peasants would unexpectedly drop in on neighbours in an effort to confuse them into thinking they were receiving a New Year's call. Out of that one jape supposedly grew the tradition of testing the patience of family and friends.

Over a period of nearly 200 years, the custom of playing jokes spread from France to England and on to the US.

The English gave April Fool's Day its first widespread celebration during the 18th century.

In France, April fools are called poisson d'Avril (April fish, which refers to a young fish, thus one easily caught). The French fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs and when someone discovers this trick, they yell "Poisson d'Avril!"

Other theories for the origin of April Fool's Day centre on the timing of the day.

Some say it is related to the arrival of spring, when nature 'fools' mankind with fickle weather.

Others say April Fool's Day commemorates the fruitless mission of the rook who was sent out in search of land from Noah's flood-encircled ark.

Some think April Fool's Day ties in with the Romans' end-of-winter celebration, Hilaria, and the end of the Celtic new year festival.

Whatever the origin of April Fool's Day, there are many superstitions connected with it.

The pranking period is supposed to expire at noon on April 1 and any jokes attempted after that time will result in bad luck for the perpetrator. Additionally, those who fail to respond with good humour to tricks played upon them are said to attract bad luck upon themselves.

Not all superstitions about the day are negative, though men fooled by a pretty woman are said to be destined to end up married to her.

April fool's jokes come in various guises from the simple practical joke to the more elaborate hoax.

One of the most famous April fool's jokes took place during a Richard Dimbleby news report aired on April 1, 1957 on BBC's Panorama show.

It opened with a line about spring coming early this year, prompting the spaghetti harvest in Switzerland to be early, too.

• Will you be playing any pranks today? What are your favourite April 1 japes over the years? Have you been an embarrassed victim of someone's practical joke? Add your comments below.