Headline–Truth! Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
An email warning that on April 1st at 12:00AM Eastern Time, a massive and destructive virus is going to be unleashed on the Internet called the “Charles IX virus.”
The Truth:
This appears to be an April Fools Day hoax that circulates from time to time.
There is no such virus, according to the major virus watching organizations.
One of the commonly accepted origins of April Fools day involves the change of calendars in the 1500’s. King Charles IX of France adopted the Gregorian calendar which changed the beginning of the new year to January 1, which is the reason that the eRumor calls the virus by his name.
Many ancient cultures celebrated the new year on April 1, which closely follows the vernal equinox, the moment the sun crosses directly over the Earth’s equator on March 20 or 21).
The term “equinox” means “equal night.” and day and night are about equal in length at the equinoxes.
Previously, the New Year celebration in France began on March 25 and ended on April 1.
Those who objected to the new date or forgot about it would get foolish gifts or invitations to parties that were really not happening…thereby being regarded as “April fools.”