April Fool's Day

The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1. Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1. These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. April 1 was officially proclaimed as a holiday in 1970 by the International Radio Broadcast Organization, currently European Union for Radio and Television. The so called House of Humour and Satire is located in Gabrovo. It was established on exactly April 1, 1972.  Currently, it has 10 exhibition halls, in which different collections of humorous items and other funny things of all nationalities are stored and shown.