The New Student's Reference Work/April

For works with similar titles, see April.

April Fools' Day, the first day of April. The custom of playing tricks and practical jokes on this day is common throughout Europe and America. In France, the man tricked is called a "silly fish;" in Scotland a "gowk." This practice probably goes back to the era of the early Hindus who play the same kind of tricks on the last day of March, when they hold what is called the Huli festival.