When is April Fools’ Day in 2026?

April Fools’ Day 2026 will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as it is observed annually on the same date—April 1—with the day of the week changing each year.

Is April Fools’ Day a public holiday?

No, April Fools’ Day is not a public holiday in any country. It is an unofficial Festival marked by playful jokes and pranks, but work, school, and business activities continue as usual.

What is the April Fool Day?

April Fools’ Day is observed in many countries on the first day of April. The name reflects the custom of playing practical jokes on this day. For example, telling friends their shoelaces are untied or sending them on fools’ errands. This day has been observed for centuries, though the true origins remain unknown and possibly unknowable. April Fools’ Day resembles ancient festivals like Hilaria in ancient Rome, which was celebrated on March 25, and Holi, a Hindu spring festival held on the full-moon of Phalguna in February or March

What are the origins of April Fools’ Day?

The story of April Fools’ Day dates back to the 1500s in France, when the Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar, was replaced with the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII. In the old system, the new year was celebrated on April 1, but the change moved the date to January 1. News did not travel fast in those days, so people in parts of the world continued celebrating the new year on April 1. These individuals were widely mocked as April Fools. The origins of this custom are still used in stories and believed to have changed the date of celebration over time.

April fool’s day history

April Fools’ Day is associated with fools, trickery, and merry-making. This celebration is believed to honor the unpredictable weather that Mother Nature plays on us. It shares a similarity with Holi, an Indian tradition celebrated on March 31st, which involves similar foolery. Another connection is the Roman festival Hilaria, celebrated on March 25th. Chaucer’s 1392 Nun’s Priest’s Tale gives a vague reference, possibly occurring on April 1st, adding doubt to the earliest origin.

Pope Gregory introduced the Gregorian calendar in the 1500s in France, moving the new year from April 1st to January. Those who continued celebrating in April were called Poisson d’Avril or April fish, and pranks were played on them. Scholars connect this reformation of the calendar to April Fools’ Day. The celebration and customs were accepted and already taking place. In Britain, a clear and reliable article from 1776 in the Gentlemans Magazine refers to April foolishness in the kingdom, marking the first day with pranks, a culmination of an eight-day feast, and a new beginning of the year. The day is believed to be shared and practiced in honor, with a tale, theory, and possibly continued connection through time.