April Fools actually has a back story...

April Fools' Day, celebrated in many parts of the world, has a long and somewhat mysterious history. While its exact origins remain unverified and unclear, there are several theories about how the tradition of pranking and hoaxes began.

Possible Origins:

1. Gregorian Calendar Change (16th Century)
   One of the most popular theories links April Fools' Day to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582. Before this change, many European countries followed the Julian calendar, in which the new year was celebrated around the end of March or early April. Celebrations were tied to the lunar calendar, and places like Stonehenge were used in rituals and festivals. When Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, furthering the church's interests and agenda, shifting New Year's Day to January 1st, some people either didn’t get the news or refused to change. Those who continued to celebrate the new year in late March or early April were mocked and called "April fools." The pagan rituals and happenings were eventually all but lost, moved aside in the name of the church. 

2. Medieval Festival of Fools
   In medieval Europe, various "Feast of Fools" celebrations were held, where social norms were reversed, and people engaged in role reversals, mischief, and jokes. This tradition may have influenced the development of April Fools' Day. Some theories mix the Festival of Fools with the calendar change, thinking it was a celebration that furthered the notoriety of the day.

3. Hilaria (Ancient Rome)
   The Roman festival of Hilaria, celebrated around March 25th, involved masquerades, pranks, and people dressing up in disguises to mock one another. Personally, I find it fascinating to think the festival of Hilaria would have found its way through history and come back alive as April Fool's Day. We may never know for sure. 

4. French "Poisson d'Avril" (April Fish)
   In France, April Fools' Day is called "Poisson d'Avril" (April Fish). A common prank involves sticking a paper fish onto someone's back without them noticing. This tradition dates back to at least the 16th century.

There have been some great April Fools' Day Pranks over the years- other than our own, and here are a couple:

• 1957: The BBC’s "Spaghetti Tree" Hoax – The BBC aired a report showing farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees, tricking many viewers.

• 1996: Taco Bell "Buys" the Liberty Bell – Taco Bell announced it had purchased the Liberty Bell and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell."

• 2015: Google’s "Smartbox by Inbox" – Google claimed to have developed a physical mailbox that worked like email.

• I found some other doozies, too. 

I love April Fools Day, and I love a good prank. So long as no one gets hurt, it's game on. 

I'd love to know your best prank. Send me a note. Best prank by April 30 gets $100 off a vacation to be used any time.