April Fools!
April Fools’ Day is almost here! If you come across news that seems too outrageous to be true, chances are it’s part of the long-standing tradition of pranks and hoaxes. Many well-known brands pour significant resources into elaborate April Fools’ marketing campaigns , rolling out fake products and services just for laughs. But how did this playful holiday begin, and what role does it play in comedy as a genre—especially in film? While its exact beginnings remain unclear, April Fools’ Day has been celebrated in different cultures for centuries. One of the most widely accepted theories traces the holiday back to 16th-century France, when the country switched from the Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar, to the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII. Under the Julian system, the new year was observed around April 1. However, some people slowly adapted to the change when the Gregorian calendar moved New Year’s Day to January 1. Those who continued celebrating the o...