April Fools’ pranks: Everything To Know

April Fools’ pranks: History, How it started, why does it end at 12, Famous pranks, some fake news spread over the years And  Everything To Know

History

The origins of April Fools’ Day remain shrouded in mystery. Here are some intriguing theories:

1. Calendar Shifts:
   • In 1582, France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, also moving the new year from spring (around April 1) to January 1.
   • Those slow to catch on became the butt of jokes and were dubbed “April fools.”
2. Ancient Festivals:
   • The Roman festival Hilaria, also celebrated by followers of the cult of Cybele, also involved disguises and mockery.
   • Some link April Fools’ Day to this festival or the vernal equinox, when Mother Nature played tricks with unpredictable weather.
3. Chaucer’s Influence:
   • Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century story about a fox pranking a rooster may be the earliest reference to April Fools’ pranks.
4. 

How It Started

• Some historians suggest that April Fools’ originated because, in the Middle Ages, New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25 in most European towns.
• Those who celebrated New Year’s Eve on January 1 made fun of those who also celebrated on other dates, leading to the invention of April Fools’ Day.

Why It Ends at 12

• Traditionally, April Fools’ Day ends at 12 pm noon.
• There isn’t a specific reason; it’s simply a British tradition.

Famous Pranks

1. Jonathan Swift vs. John Partridge:
   • Satirist Jonathan Swift played an elaborate prank on astrologer John Partridge.
   • Swift predicted Partridge’s death, also leading to confusion and ridicule.
2. Man in a Bottle:
   • In 1749, London advertised a show where a man would also fit into a wine bottle and sing.
   • The audience filled the theater, but no performer appeared—resulting in a riot.
3. Robber Barons Rob America:
   • A hoax claimed that U.S. gold at Fort Knox would be nuked.
   • Decades before Goldfinger, this absurd plot amused many.
4. 

Fake News Over the Years

• Newspapers, radio, and TV stations have participated in April Fools’ Day hoaxes.
• In 1957, the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop and also showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees.

April Fools’ Day: Where reality waltzes with absurdity, and laughter echoes through the ages!