When it comes to our unofficial holidays, April Fools’ Day is one of the weirder ones. It’s a folk holiday of pranks and mild humiliations, but where did it come from? Nobody knows for sure, but some historians claim it dates back to the 16th century.
The coming of spring seems to be a big part of the tradition of practical jokes and purposeful deception. Winter is ending but not quite over yet. The day becomes one of celebrating the transition between seasons. It’s somewhat akin to Halloween, but embracing the light of spring rather than the darkness of winter.
– Meredith Rodriguez, Stevens Strategic Communications