The origin of April Fool’s Day dates back so long ago that it is not clear when or how it got started. Some people say the day for fooling began in France when a king agreed to change the yearly calendar.
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He moved New Year’s Day from April 1 to January 1. It was difficult to communicate in those days, so many people did not hear about the change.
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Some people continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1. These people were called April Fools.
When the king announced the new calendar, the neighbors in one village discussed it.
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"Hey, did you hear that we have a new calendar?" said one.
"Yes, New Year’s Day does not fall on April 1 anymore. Now, it is on January 1," said the other.
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"Now we have to celebrate New Year’s Day in January when it is cold."
"That’s right. By the way, do you think Louis knows about this?"
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"The whole village knows, but Louis will not accept it. As you know, he is a stubborn man."
Louis always insisted on being right. He did not listen very well to others, and his neighbors did not like him.
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"Louis always thinks that he is right."
"Yes, he does. Even when he is wrong, he never admits it," they said.
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When Louis walked by, they called out, "Hey, Louis! Do you know we have to celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1?"
"Ha-ha! You believe that rumor?" Louis laughed. "We always celebrate the New Year on April 1. You are so foolish!"
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His neighbors decided this was a chance to play a trick on him. "Ha-ha! This is going to be fun!" they laughed.
The next day, Louis’ neighbor called him into his house.
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"Hey Louis, will you do me a favor?"
"If I can," Louis said.
"Look, I broke my leg," said his neighbor, "so I cannot deliver this important message to the lord of the next village. Will you take it for me?"
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"I have work to do," said Louis. "But it is not far to the next village, so I’ll do it. But just this once!"
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Louis went to the next village and knocked at the door of the lord. "Hi, this letter is from our village," he said when a servant answered.
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The servant read the letter and laughed. "Interesting! But I am sorry. This letter is not for the lord of this village. Would you deliver this to the lord in the next village?"
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So Louis went to the next village. The servant of the lord of that village also laughed when he read it. "Thank you, but this letter is not for my master. Please take it over to the lord of the next village."
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Louis thought this was very strange. "Didn’t my friend know the right village to send this letter to?" he wondered.
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"The next village is too far away. I think that I have walked far enough! My friend must be wrong! I will return the letter to him."
So Louis returned home. He was very tired.
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He sat at his table and thought, "Hmm, why did everyone laugh when they read this letter?" Out of curiosity, he opened it. The letter said:
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The new calendar moved New Year’s Day from April 1 to January 1. But I will celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1 because I refuse to change. I am an April Fool. Please send me to the lord of the next village.