Across the globe, from France to Iceland and the United States, April Fools’ Day, which falls on Tuesday, will be marked by pranks and hoaxes. It is a day earmarked for practical jokes, so ensure you’re on the lookout for viral posts and keep an eye on the sneaky appearance of sticky notes on your back.
The tradition of jesters pulling pranks is a long-standing one, with roots in history, though its precise origins remain ambiguous. Today, the manner of celebration varies by locale, whether it be through attaching a paper fish to an unsuspecting person’s back or planting a whoopee cushion. Notably, there have even been media funnies, like the report of flying penguins.
In the U.S., the completion of a prank is often accompanied by cries of “April Fools!” ensuring the joke is understood.
Here is what you need to know about the vibrant history and celebrations of April Fools’ Day:
Where did the tradition of April Fools’ Day start?
Several theories exist regarding the origins of April Fools’ Day, though it remains unclear which one holds true. What is evident is that its practice dates back centuries. One theory suggests that it began in France in 1564 when King Charles IX shifted New Year celebrations from March 25 to January 1. According to the Library of Congress, those unaware or who forgot about this change were often mocked. Yet, the history of this transition is said to be much more intricate, as varied regional practices existed.
Another idea ties the day to the 1582 reform that saw the shift from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The Library of Congress indicates this kind of storytelling has been used to explain several holidays, rather than a singular truth.
A further theory speculates a connection to the vernal equinox on March 21, a day notorious for capricious weather tricks, as per the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The first clear documentation of April Fools’ Day is traced back to 1561, attributed to Flemish poet Eduard De Dene, who wrote about a nobleman sending his servant on foolish errands on April 1, according to the Library of Congress.
What are some of the most memorable April Fools’ Day pranks?
In 2021, then-first lady Jill Biden humorously disguised herself as a flight attendant named “Jasmine” aboard a plane. With a nametag, wig, and disguised outfit, she distributed ice cream bars before revealing her true identity to laughter and the familiar cry, “April Fools!”
Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have expressed a penchant for April Fools’ antics, famously concocting imaginative ideas. These have included announcing a moon-based research center and a “scratch and sniff” feature on their search platform.
In 1992, NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” threw listeners for a loop by announcing ex-President Richard Nixon’s presidential run through a convincing impersonation. According to the Museum of Hoaxes, the imitation included Nixon saying, “I never did anything wrong, and I won’t do it again.”
Internationally, a notable prank involved the BBC World Service announcing in 1980 that Big Ben would convert to a digital clock, renaming it Digital Dave, stated by UK Parliament sources.
How is April Fools’ Day celebrated across cultures?
Celebrations vary widely, from Scotland to Iceland and beyond. In France, known as poisson d’avril, or “April Fish,” traditions include children attaching paper fish to the unsuspecting backs of their peers, a fact supported by Atlas Obscura.
In Scotland, the celebration extends over two days; April 1 is “Gowkie Day” or “Hunt the Gowk”, with “gowk” referring to a fool, as noted by Encyclopedia Britannica. Pranks might even intensify on April 2 with “kick me” signs on people’s backs.
Iceland also takes part, with an emphasis on making people “hlaupa apríl,” which means to incite an “April run.” Sometimes, media outlets join in; for instance, in 2014, Iceland Review ran a fabricated story titled “Google Signs Deal with Iceland” as part of the local tradition of tomfoolery.