Time was, the European calendar listed this day as the start of a new year, until 1582 when it was changed to January 1 for the new Gregorian calendar. This day also marked the start of a new year in the Hindu tradition. April 1 also marked the 12th day after the spring equinox.
But because the Julian calendar, designed by order of Julius Caesar more than a millennium earlier, had become out of date, it was decided to redo it and move the new year 12 weeks earlier.
This would superimpose the new religious tradition over the Druid tradition of marking the winter solstice as an important spiritual season and the birth of a new year.
Never mind that the spring equinox was and remains the time when flowers mark the birth season of flowers, rabbits and birds. And that Easter was the name of the ancient goddess of fertility.
But because the Julian calendar, designed by order of Julius Caesar more than a millennium earlier, had become out of date, it was decided to redo it and move the new year 12 weeks earlier.
This would superimpose the new religious tradition over the Druid tradition of marking the winter solstice as an important spiritual season and the birth of a new year.
Never mind that the spring equinox was and remains the time when flowers mark the birth season of flowers, rabbits and birds. And that Easter was the name of the ancient goddess of fertility.
Spring would also have been an easier time to travel and conform with the Roman order to go to your home town for a census.
In any case, people would greet their friends with "Happy New Year," because that was indeed appropriate.
However, when the calendar was changed to make January 1 the start of new year rather than April 1, many would continue to say Happy New Year but immediately pass it off as a joke.
Thus began the modern tradition of playing jokes on others on April 1.
In any case, people would greet their friends with "Happy New Year," because that was indeed appropriate.
However, when the calendar was changed to make January 1 the start of new year rather than April 1, many would continue to say Happy New Year but immediately pass it off as a joke.
Thus began the modern tradition of playing jokes on others on April 1.
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