april 1st - april fool's day (dia da mentira) is thought to have started during the middle ages when most of europe celebrated the new year from the 25th of march until the 1st of april.

with the adoption of the gregorian calendar in france in 1564, the date of the new year's changed to the 1st of january and those who didn't adopt or celebrate it then were often teased or joked upon.

brazil can trace dia da mentira, or the day of lies, to 1828 and the publication of an article in the satirical a mentira announcing the death of dom pedro, emperor of brazil, which was far from true.

good humour and smiles are strong components of carioca culture, and while april 1st may not be widely celebrated, jokes and fun are most definitely part of life in rio de janeiro.