For those of us who grew up with older siblings, April Fool’s Day is an event that probably left a mark of enduring memories from childhood (although hopefully cheerful ones). April Fool’s Day, the global custom of lighthearted pranks and mischief, is a day to enjoy practical jokes that end with a sense of surprise, amusement, and laughter from everyone involved, including the recipient. The day serves as an excuse for us all to let out a more mischievous side of ourselves in the name of good fun. The tendency toward playful teasing and pranks is a fairly universal aspect of human behavior that exists in every culture, and so it is not surprising that variations of this tradition are celebrated in many countries around the world. But what is the story behind such a unique tradition like April Fool’s Day?
History of April Fool’s Day:
When did April Fool’s Day originate? No one knows for sure, but there are several prevailing theories rooted in traditions scattered through European history that offer plausible origin stories. The ancient Romans held biannual religious festivals in both March and November called Hilaria, which was typically celebrated with parades, masquerades, and games, along with mockery of relatives and friends. The essence of the latter is what is thought to have endured through the centuries and reshaped into the April Fool’s Day we know today.
Another guess suggests that April Fool’s Day could have started with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, a change that slid back the start of the new year from late March to January 1. Those who did not adopt (or did not hear of) this change in the calendar were mocked as “April fools,” for continuing to celebrate the new year in March.
Customs Around the World:
However the day of hoaxes originated, it is celebrated differently throughout the world.
In France, April Fool’s Day is called Poisson d’Avril, meaning “April fish,” a name that harkens back to a common prank of taping a paper fish to an unknowing person’s back. This is thought to have stemmed from fishermen, who were thought to have hung live fish from each other’s loose clothing, which often went unnoticed by the recipient until the fish started to smell. In its paper form, this is a prank that still exists currently, and is thought of as a symbol of gullibility. Italy shares this tradition with France, and calls the holiday Pesce d’Aprile.
Brazil celebrates the holiday “Dia das Mentiras,” meaning “Day of Lies,” which originated from a famous prank conducted on April 1, 1828 by the satirical newspaper A Mentira, in which the paper announced the death of Dom Pedro 1, the emperor of Brazil, who was not actually dead at the time.
Famous April Fool’s Day Pranks:
In honor of April Fool’s Day, let’s review a few of the most famous pranks in history:
- One legendary hoax that is has stood the test of time is the Swiss Spaghetti-Tree prank. In 1957, the BBC aired a hilarious three-minute segment claiming that Swiss farmers had managed to grow and harvest spaghetti trees. This video features footage of families harvesting long spaghetti noodles dangling off tree branches and laying them out to dry. This prank earned calls from interested listeners who were eager to learn how to plant their own spaghetti trees.
- In 1998, physicist Mark Boslough wrote an article in a journal called New Mexicans for Science and Reason, claiming that the state of Alabama would be changing the measure of PI, a value of 3.14159, to a value of 3.0, the Biblical number. This hoax was popularized on the internet, earning protests from around the world.
- Finally, in 1996, Taco Bell released newspaper ads in six major newspapers (including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today) claiming that the company had bought the Liberty Bell, a historical artifact, and intended to rename it as the “Taco Liberty Bell.” The National Park Service was flooded with thousands of calls before the hoax was thankfully revealed later that day. This prank was extremely successful as a marketing campaign, earning the company millions in free publicity.
With these notable pranks in mind, we hope you have a happy and mischievous April Fool’s!
Richter Publishing 