However, here is one that I like the sound of. Up until the Middle Ages what many cultures celebrated as New Year had less to do with our modern traditional January idea than the week following the Spring Equinox which fell on March 21st. The period from March 25th until April 1st was celebrated as the "week of the New Year".

Step forward Pope Gregory XIII, who in 1582 created wholesale reforms and changes to the calendar, including moving New Years Day to January 1st, as it still is today.

Problem was that not everyone was either aware of the change or wanted to change, so kept on celebrating April 1st as New Years Day. These were quickly ridiculed by the followers of the new order (i.e. New Year is now January 1st), and became known as "April Fools".

The new order prevailed but this ridiculing around April 1st led to people playing tricks on each other on the day. It still goes on ................