Fact 1: The Historical Background of April Fool’s Day
April Fool's Day, celebrated on April 1 of each year, is an occasion filled with pranks, jokes and laughter. Despite multiple theories, its exact origins remain uncertain. Some historians believe it dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, and those who failed to recognize the change and continued celebrating the start of a new year during the last week of March to April 1 were ridiculed as "April Fools."
Fact 2: April Fool’s Day Around the World
In France, the April 1 tradition is called 'Poisson d’Avril,' or 'April Fish.' Children try to stick a paper fish onto others' backs. While in Scotland, the occasion is celebrated for two days. The second day is dedicated to pranks involving posteriors and is called 'Taily Day.'
Fact 3: April 01 Was Once New Year's Day
In some cultures, the old New Year’s Day was observed around April 1. This was because the vernal equinox, or the beginning of spring, was considered the start of a new year by early cultures. The change in this practice eventually led to an opportunity for pranks and jokes to emerge.
Fact 4: Spaghetti Tree Hoax
The celebration of April Fool’s Day sometimes extends to media broadcasts. One notable prank occurred in 1957 when the BBC broadcast news about Swiss farmers reaping a plentiful spaghetti harvest. Many viewers actually believed the report, giving birth to the term 'spaghetti tree hoax.'
Fact 5: The Invasion of San Seriffe
April Fool's Day became a day for media pranks. In 1977, a seven-page article in The Guardian reported an incredible feature about an island nation called San Seriffe. Many readers missed that this was a playful anagram based on the names of typefaces, sans-serif and serif.
Fact 6: Taco Liberty Bell
In 1996, an hilarious prank was pulled off by Taco Bell, claiming they had purchased the historical Liberty Bell and renamed it as 'Taco Liberty Bell.' The joke caught many people off guard and generated substantial media attention.
Fact 7: Origin Controversy
Although the most common theory of April Fool's Day origin relates to the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, some cultures link it to the Roman festival 'Hilaria,' celebrated at the end of March, and others relate it to the Norse celebration of spring at the end of March, which involved pranks and jokes.
Fact 8: The Practice of "Gowkie Day"
In Scotland, the practice of April Fool's Day is spread over two days and the first day is known as "Gowkie Day," where the gowk is another name for a cuckoo bird, symbolizing a fool.
Fact 9: A Universe-based April Fool's Joke
Richard Lenski, a renowned evolutionary biologist, every year on April 1, posts about his long-term Evolution experiments on e-coli bacteria revealing incredible (but untrue) scientific breakthroughs. His readers enjoy discovering that they've been 'April fooled' and the humor of the occasion brings the scientific community closer together.
Fact 10: Google’s April Fool’s Day Fun
Google is another company well-known for its April Fool’s Day pranks. Examples include Google Nose, the smell-based search engine; Gmail Motion, allowing users to send emails using body language; and Google Gnome, a voice-activated lawn gnome that can control outside appliances.
Fact 11: Manhattanhenge
In New York City, an event called Manhattanhenge typically occurs around April 1. The sun sets exactly along the east-west street grid, creating an enchanting view.
Fact 12: First Day of Fourth Quarter in Some Industries
For some industries, the financial year starts on April 1, hence the fourth quarter begins as well. Companies often release their financial results leading to a busy day for finance professionals.
Fact 13: The First Game of Major League Baseball
The Major League Baseball season typically starts in early April and sometimes the first game falls on April 1.
Fact 14: April Fool’s Day and Edible Book Day Connection
Sometimes, April Fool’s Day coincides with Edible Book Day, a day for literary puns transformed into culinary delights.
Fact 15: April Fool's Day in Literature
April Fool's Day is also found in literature. One example is Mark Twain’s famous line: "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."
Fact 16: The Sideways Rain of April Fool’s Day
In 2015, the MET Office of UK declared that 'sideways rain' would be officially recognized as a type of precipitation as a playful April Fool's prank.
Fact 17: "Kick Me" Signs
In Scotland and Ireland, an April Fool’s tradition is to pin a "Kick me" sign on someone's back without them noticing.
Fact 18: Swap Day
In Iran, they celebrate 'Sizdah Be-dar,' sometimes coinciding with April 1, a day when people play pranks on each other, known locally as 'Swap Day.'
Fact 19: Early Bird’s Fool
Traditionally, in many countries, pranks can only be pulled until midday on April 1. People who continue to play tricks after midday are called 'April Fools' themselves.
Fact 20: The Guinness World Record
The largest number of people fooled by an April Fool’s prank globally was in 1980 when the BBC reported Big Ben would be replaced by a digital clock. The public reacted outrageously and of course, they were all fooled.