April Fools' Day is an annual celebration on April 1st that has been observed for centuries. Its exact origins are unknown, but it involves playing practical jokes or hoaxes on others and announcing them with the phrase "April Fools!"
The Theories
One theory suggests that April Fools' Day dates back to 1582 when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The people who did not know,
about the change, continued to celebrate the new year in late March became the target of pranks and were called "April fools." These pranks included sticking paper fish on their backs, symbolizing that they are easily caught fish and gullible individuals.
Another theory links April Fools' Day to the ancient Roman festival called Hilaria, where people would dress in disguises and mock others. This festival was inspired by the Egyptian legend of Isis, Osiris, and Seth. Additionally, there is speculation that the unpredictable weather of the vernal equinox, the first day of spring, may have contributed to the association of tricks and foolery with April.
The Jokes
During the 18th century, April Fools' Day became popular in Britain, with Scotland extending the celebration to a two-day event. Pranks such as sending people on phony errands or playing jokes involving their derrieres became common during this time.
In modern times, the media has played a significant role in creating elaborate April Fools' Day jokes. Newspapers, radio, TV stations, and websites have all participated in reporting outrageous fictional claims to fool their audiences. For example, the BBC once reported on record spaghetti crops in Switzerland, and Sports Illustrated published a fictional article about a pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw over 168 miles per hour.
Big brands have also joined in on the fun. Taco Bell announced it had purchased Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and planned to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell. Burger King advertised a "Left-Handed Whopper," leading customers to request the fake sandwich. Google is known for its annual April Fools' Day pranks, which have included features like telepathic search and playing Pac Man on Google Maps.
For everyday pranksters, classic April Fools' Day tricks include wrapping the toilet with plastic wrap or swapping sugar and salt containers.