The Origins of April Fool’s Day 

April Fools Day is a holiday that involves practical pranks and jokes, with origins dating back to the 1500s. While the exact origins of this holiday are uncertain, it shares similarities with other celebrations, such as Hilaria in ancient Rome. Hilaria was known as the eighth of the Calends of April, which strongly links the festival to April first. Another possible origin is the Medieval Feast of Fools, which emerged sometime in the late 12^th century in Central Europe. The feast involved electing a Lord of Misrule, who would preside over a day of revelry, including pranks, jokes, and general disorder.

“I’ve always wondered why we celebrate April Fools,” said DBHS Sophomore Darline Mondesir.

Another possibility of how April Fools started goes back to the 1500s in France. When the Julien Calendar was changed to the Gregorian calendar. The first day of the year changed from April to January. Word traveled slowly, and people who still used the Julien Calendar were mocked as “April fools.” Some sources believe the practice of telling April Fools jokes spread rapidly, and it has continued over the last 500 years.

“I like April Fools Day but I’ve never thought about where it came from,” said sophomore Dylan Ortiz.

Although the origins of this holiday are unclear, it does not stop people from celebrating in the slightest. Statistics show that 21% of respondents said they are likely to prank someone for April Fools Day this year and 25% expect to get pranked by others. Even businesses participate in the holiday. In 2022, Sprite and McDonald’s teamed up to create a hilarious prank promoting a canned version of McDonald’s Sprite. The same year 7-Eleven introduced “Tiny Gulp,” a humorous smaller version of their big gulp drinks, “for just 7 cents for 0.7 ounces, you can quench a small fraction of your thirst.” Companies celebrating April Fools Day could increase profit and relate to their customers. 

“I love when companies do pranks, my favorite is Duolingo,” said DBHS Sophomore Adin Julien.

While April Fool’s Day’s origins remain uncertain, people all over the world and throughout time have had similar holidays. Holidays like April Fools are here to bring humor into people’s lives. Whether rooted in ancient festivals or cultural traditions, the day continues to bring lighthearted fun.

Written by Camila Castro  | Graphic Designed by Camila Castro 

Published March 31, 2025 | ePathfinder | Feature