A more common theory suggests that the holiday emerged in the late

1500s, when France moved from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.
Because of the change, New Year celebrations were moved back three
months from April 1 to January 1, but not everybody got the memo. Those
who were in the know would drop in on their less knowledgeable neighbors
and play tricks on them. Often, they’d pin a cutout fish on their
back; a poisson d’avril, or April fish, was thought of as easy to catch.

Whatever its true origin may be, the holiday gained traction in the 1700s
when it became popular for the British to play pranks on one another. The
Scots even made the event a two-day affair: One day where people were
asked to “hunt the gowk” (or the cuckoo bird) and were sent on silly
errands, and another day where people would pin signs and ornaments to
their friends' rear ends, known as Tailie Day.

By the 1950s, the media started playing along. In 1957, the BBC jokingly
reported that farmers in Switzerland were harvesting spaghetti crops
and created video to go along with it. Many Brits believed the program and
called to find out where they could purchase a pasta bush.

It may stem from a calendar change in 16th century France -- the

moving of New Year's Dayfrom April 1 to January 1 when the Gregorian
calendar was adopted.

People who continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1st rather
than the new date of January 1st were referred to as "April fools" and
others played tricks on them.

In France, April 1st is called "Poisson d'Avril."

French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends'
backs.

When the "young fool" discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson
d'Avril!"

In Scotland, April Fools' lasts two days. Victims of pranks are called
gowks (cuckoo birds). The second day is known as Taily Day, and pranks
involving the backside are played. Supposedly, it is the origin of "kick me"
signs.
In England and Canada, pranks are only played in the morning of April 1st.