April 1st Tradition

For as long as I can remember, people have loved playing jokes on April 1st and they don't even know why!

It appears that the first April fool's joke came about when a new calendar was introduced in the 1500s to the Christian world by Pope Gregory that indicated the first day of the new year was in January.  Many didn't want to change the date, so they kept celebrating the new year on April 1st.  From that time forward, people have pulled pranks or jokes on people, just so they could say, "April fool".

Typically, in April, the newness of spring arrives and is evident in the change of the temperature of the air, the color of the leaves, and the grass that grows.  One may hear more birds chirping, expect to get more done in the course of a day because of longer daylight hours, and even just relax outdoors. So, upon further reflection, may the celebration of a new year should be April 1st.

At any rate, pranks or jokes should not humiliate people or traumatize them for life.  I'd like to see another tradition become a more typical April celebration.  How about on the first of April, everyone pledges to do at least five really good things for other people.  That would make a really good April 1st for a lot of people. 

Think about it--what could you do to make someone else's life just a little better today?