How "Paid leave" and "April fool" were born

Here are couple of interesting historical facts that I learned today.

Paid leaves

Just have a look at the calendar for the month of September 1752. Google September 1752 calendar & see for yourself. You will notice, 11 days are simply missing from the month.

Here’s the explanation,

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 decided and 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 and we still get 10 paid holidays every year. 10 and not 11 because 1752 was a leap year.

Hail the King!!!!

April fool

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.

History is really interesting!!!