April fools! (Sorry. Didn’t mean to get your hopes up!)
Yes, it’s that time of year again — April Fools’ Day. It’s the day when a few of my coworkers (who take the holiday very seriously) play jokes on the rest of us. It’s both hilarious and a little bit terrifying. I never know what they’re going to do next!
Have you ever wondered about the origins of this strange holiday? If you have, I’m afraid you’re going to have to keep wondering. It’s been celebrated for centuries and historians have speculated about how it might have started, but no one really knows for sure. One theory is that it might have begun in the 1500s when King Charles IX of France ruled that the New Year would begin on January 1st rather than on Easter. People who continued to celebrate the New Year on Easter were called “April fools.”
But however it got started, it certainly has caught on. April Fools’ Day isn’t just celebrated in the United States. It’s also celebrated (in slightly different ways) in Europe, Australia, Canada, and Brazil. It’s clear that practical jokes are appreciated worldwide.
And hey – that’s probably a good thing! After all, laughter can be very beneficial! It helps to relieve stress and anxiety. It may even be good for your overall health.
So enjoy the day! And if you can’t think of a trick to play on your coworkers, try this – tape a piece of paper to the underside of their computer mouse, blocking the sensor. It’s a classic for a reason!
April Fool’s Day. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica online. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/30821/April-Fools-Day
Macha, A. (2013, April 1). Why April Fools’ Day is good for your health. Health. Retrieved from http://news.health.com/2013/04/01/why-april-fools-day-is-good-for-your-health/
