Get Ready For April Fools’ Day

April Fools’ Day, also called All Fools’ Day, is celebrated on April 1 every year. Although it’s not a national holiday, it is widely recognized and celebrated in many countries as a day when people pull hoaxes and practical jokes on each other, called April Fools. And if you don’t want to be fooled into overpaying for car insurance, get a new quote today.

Some believe the origin of April Fools’ Day began years ago in France. People believe that this day somehow connects back to an ancient New Year’s festival held on the vernal equinox, March 21. According to the pre-Gregorian calendar, this was the start of the new year. In France, Charles IX changed the beginning of the new year — adopting the Gregorian calendar in1564 – celebrating the new year on January first. Those people who still celebrated the day on the first of April were known as April Fools’.

Before the date was changed, people exchanged gifts on the first day of the year; when the date was changed, people started sending fake gifts (and invitations for bogus parties) to other people on April 1, marking them as April Fools.

How April Fools’ Day is celebrated around the world:

• France, Italy and Belgium – Children and adults traditionally tack paper fishes on each other’s back as a trick and yell “April fish!”
• Scotland – The traditional joke is to send people on a fool’s errand, having a person deliver a sealed message asking for help, the note tells the receiver to pass it along and continue the prank.
• Iran – Sizdah Bedar, the 13th day of the Persian New Year, usually falls on April 1 or April 2. Since 536 BC, practical jokes are thought to have been played on this holiday.  After a picnic, green vegetables are thrown out, which is thought to protect against any bad luck or potential illnesses in the coming year.
• Poland – April Fools’ Day in Poland is called Pryma Aprylis. In addition to being a day of pranks, April Fools’ Day celebrations often involve dressing up in costumes.
• Spain and Mexico – These countries observe the Feast of the Innocents on December 28th by pranking and tricking people. Victims of pranks are warned not to get angry, because the tricksters are representing the innocents.
• Portugal – The Sunday and Monday before Lent is when the Portuguese celebrate April Fools’, and they have nationally adopted the prank of throwing flour on unsuspecting victims.
• India and Nepal – India’s Holi festival is celebrated on March 31. Also known as the festival of colors and the festival of love, it is a day to play jokes, throw colored powder and wear face and body paint and have waterfights with water guns and balloons.
• Denmark and Sweden – May 1 is Maj-kat (May cat), a joke day, although they also celebrate April 1 as April Fools’ Day. Pranks on 1 May are much less frequent.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re already paying the lowest car insurance rates. Do yourself a favor and get a quote.

What are you doing to celebrate April Fools’ Day?  Feel free to share your thoughts and comments in the comments section below.