by YVETTE BEST

BE CAREFUL with whatever you do today; someone might very well be playing a trick on you!

Today is April 1, commonly known as All Fools' Day, and while there are no specific traditions associated with the day here in Barbados, it has become the norm for people to fall prey to a few pranks.

These tricks usually involve prank calls, silly jokes, being sent on false errands and leading people into believing that their shoelaces are undone or that something is on their face. Whatever the prank, the trickster invariably yells "April Fool!".

Research has shown that there is no first April Fool's Day that can be pinpointed on the calendar, but it is believed the day evolved in different cultures around the world, from celebrations involving the first day of spring.

The All Fools' Day tradition is believed to have started in 1582 in France. Due to a change in the calendar under Charles IX, when the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, New Year's Day was moved from April 1 to January 1.

According to one account, news of this change travelled by foot and many people did not receive the news for several years.

Some of those who got the information refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1.

Those people were listed as "fools" by the general populace and were subject to ridicule and often sent on "fools' errands", or were
made the brunt of practical jokes.

The tradition spread to England and Scotland in the 18th century and later to American colonies of the English and French.

It is celebrated for two days in Scotland, with the second day devoted to pranks involving the posterior region of the body. It is called the
Taily Day. The origin of the "kick me" sign can be traced to this observance.

Over in Mexico, April Fool's Day is actually observed on December 28. What was originally a day to remember children slaughtered by King Herod, evolved into a lighter commemoration involving pranks and trickery.