Some may say you’re a fool if you haven’t heard of April Fools Day but most people don’t know how the holiday actually started.
According to ABC News, there are several events that may have inspired the pranking. One of the theories was the publishing of Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” in 1392, which included “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.” The story is set on March 32 and some scholars suggest that Chaucer used the imaginary date to refer to April 1, confusing all of the “fools.”
The holiday has evolved into playing more trivial jokes on friends and family, and some Ferris students are proud partakers in the trickery.
“I’m an identical twin, so in school my brother and I would switch classes,” Ferris nursing junior Mike Pall said. “It would usually last about half the day.”
Another possible explanation for the beginning of the day of foolery is France’s switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar during the 1500s, according to ABC News. The switch resulted in the start of the new year being moved to Jan. 1, rather than the last week of March ending with April 1; only the “fools” were unaware of the switch.
Finally, others simply think that the holiday was influenced by the weather. Since April 1 occurs close to the vernal equinox, it is historically plagued with unstable weather conditions, according to ABC News. Those unprepared could appear very foolish.
Regardless of the cause, many people enjoy taking part in the trickery of the day, and some Bulldogs had planned pranks for their roommates and friends.
“I probably will play a prank. Maybe try and set their alarms super early so they wake up,” Ferris dental hygiene sophomore Jenna Thom said.
With April Fools’ Day falling on Easter Sunday this year, it was a good opportunity for students to head home and trick their unsuspecting siblings.
“I always have great goals towards acknowledging it, and so I make a lot of plans. They don’t always get filled out though. I might stick something in my brother’s backpack,” Ferris elementary education sophomore Elizabeth Whiteside said.
While the origins of April Fool’s Day are still debated, many students at Ferris enjoy the fun opportunity to prank their friends and family, even when the day falls on Easter.
Click here for more from the Torch’s News section.