The New Year was welcomed in pretty much the same way as it is today throughout the world, with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, when King Charles IX ruled France, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1st. But, communications being what they were in the days when information was literally carried from town to town, many people did not receive the news for several years. There were some people who didn't believe the change in the date and others who simply refused to accept it. So these people continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1st.
French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs.
The tradition of April Fool pranks eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century and later was introduced to American colonies by both the French and English. April Fool's Day developed into an international fun day with different nationalities carrying out their own form of tricks on their families and friends. In England, April Fool is celebrated only before noon. Like the French citizens of old, if you don't know the time has passed and carry on playing tricks you are considered 'the fool'. While in Scotland, April Fool's Day is celebrated for two days.