On April 1, how many of us heard stories, read a newspaper article, or received an email from friends, family, or co-workers that was immediately followed by the loud cry of “April Fools!”?
April 1 is the US national holiday for tricks, pranks, and other practical jokes. The commonly accepted origin of April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day involves changes in the calendar. There was a time when the New Year’s celebration began on March 25 and ended on April 1. However, in 1582, King Charles IX accepted the beginning of the New Year as January 1. Those who refused to acknowledge the new date or simply forgot received silly gifts and invitations to non-existent parties. It has become a day of merry hoaxes and has produced some elaborate and well-known hoaxes.
The United States is not the only country participating in a national day of pranks. Several others around the world are also hosting a day similar to ours.
o In Iran, people play pranks on April 3, the 13th day of the Persian calendar. It is believed that people should go out on this date to escape the bad luck of the number 13.
o On April 1st, the French play a game called “April Fish” and attempt to place a paper fish on the back of the victims without them noticing. This is also widespread in other nations, such as Italy, where “April Fish” is also used to refer to any other joke that is played during the day.
o In Belgium, the tradition is for children to lock their parents or teachers out of the house or school, only letting them in if they promise to bring treats the same night or the next day.
o In some countries, including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, on April 1, if someone does the April Fool’s Day trick after noon, then the person doing the trick is considered foolish.
So this year, if you can’t come up with a believable hoax, joke, or prank yourself, you might want to try taking an idea from some of the countries mentioned above. Not only will you get the benefit of yelling “April Fool’s!” your unsuspecting victim, but it will also teach you a bit about a few different customs; and that’s no joke!
