April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a holiday celebrated in various countries on April 1. The day is marked by hoaxes and other practical jokes on friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers. The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392). Many historians believe that the establishment of January 1 as New Year's Day in the 16th century was responsible for the creation of the April Fools' Day, but this theory does not explain earlier references. In the Middle Ages, New Year's Day was celebrated on March 25 in most European towns. In some areas of France, New Year's was a week-long holiday ending on April 1. So it is possible that April Fools originated because those who celebrated on January 1 made fun of those who celebrated on other dates.