Just have a look at the calendar for the month of September
1752. You will notice, 11 days are simply missing from the month. This was the month during which
England shifted from the Roman Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. A Julian year was 11 days longer than a Gregorian year. So,
the King of England ordered 11 days to be wiped off the face of that particular
month. So, the workers worked for 11 days less that month, but got paid for the
whole month. That's how the concept of "paid leave" was born.
In the Roman Julian Calendar, April used to be the first month
of the year; but the Gregorian Calendar observed January as the first month.
Even after shifting to the Gregorian Calendar, many people refused to give up
old traditions and continued celebrating 1st April as the New Year's Day. When
simple orders didn't work, the King finally issued a royal dictum; which stated
that those who celebrated 1st April as the new year's day would be labelled as
fools. From then on, 1st April became April Fool's Day.
