April Fools’ Day, also referred to as All Fools Day, is an annual observance on April 1st marked by playing pranks and jokes on people. This is the one day in the year where pranksters and mischievous older siblings all over the world roll up their sleeves to think of the most elaborate pranks and hoaxes.
Although this odd prank-centric holiday has been celebrated since it gained popularity in the 19th century, its origin still remains somewhat of a mystery. Historically, people playing harmless pranks on one another has been a common universal practice since the beginning of time. So, what is the history and origin of April Fools’ Day?
According to one account, April 1st and foolishness was first mentioned in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. In the Nun’s Priest’s Tale, where characters played pranks on Syn March bigan Thritty dayes and two, which to readers meant 32nd of March (April 1st). However, the accuracy of this speculation remains an issue. Because for starters, historians claim that there is no proof that Chaucer was referencing April 1st while others claim there was a copying mistake and Chaucer actually wrote Syn March gon (32 days after March which would be May 2nd).
Eduard de Dene, a Flemish Poet in 1539, wrote about a noble who would send his servants on silly errands on the 1st of April and before that in 1508, Eloy d’Amerval mentioned a Poisson d’avril (April fool as Fish of April), which may have been the first reference to this holiday in France.
Another popular legend claims that April Fools’ Day traces its origins back to 1582 when France embraced the Gregorian calendar. Historians suggest that this holiday originated during this era because the shift to the Gregorian calendar from the Julian Calendar meant a change in the date of New Year’s Day celebrations. Most European towns celebrated the start of the year on March 25th, which in some cities in France would conclude on April 1st. Therefore, those who observed New Year’s Day on January 1st ridiculed those who celebrated on other days and hence the creation of April Fools’ Day. Although January 1st was introduced as New Year’s Day in the 16th century in France, it was only officially adopted in 1564 thanks to Edict of Roussillon.
It should be noted that different cultures around the world had specific days for ‘foolishness’ from the start of April to late March. For instance, historians claim that the Roman festival of Hilaria which was observed on March 25th predates April Fools’ Day and may as well mark the origin of the holiday. Other examples include the Hindu Holi celebrations and the Jewish Purim, which are examples of culturally accepted days of ‘foolishness’. Another suggestion for the origin of this holiday claims that the festivities on this day marked the vernal equinox in honour of the first day of spring which started on March 25th and ended on April 2nd.
United Kingdom
In the UK, and other countries whose All Fools’ Day customs were derived from the UK, pranks, hoaxes, and jokes stop at noon, after which it becomes unacceptable to continue playing pranks on people.
In Scotland, All Fools’ Day is usually referred to as ‘Huntigowk Day’. The name is derived from ‘hunt the gowk,’ gowk being Scottish for cuckoo or a foolish person. Scots celebrate this day by sending someone on a wild goose chase to convey a wrapped message that allegedly appeals for help.
Poland
In Poland, April Fools’ Day is referred to as Prima aprilis in Latin. On this day, pranks and hoaxes are played across the country in very sophisticated ways by the people, media, and even public institutions. Anything said on this day is considered untrue and the belief is so strong to the point that the Polish-Turkish alliance signed by Leopold I on April 1st in 1683 was backdated to the 31st of March.
Nordic countries
In Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, the majority of media outlets publish one false story as the first-page article but not the headline on April 1st.
April fish (Poisson d’avril)
In France, Belgium, as well as French-speaking regions of Canada and Switzerland, the longstanding practice for this day is referred to as ‘April fish’. On this day, pranksters attempt to attach a paper fish onto the victim’s back without their notice.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, All Fools’ Day is observed for different reasons. One was because of the Dutch victory of Brielle of 1572 when Duke Alvarez de Toledo lost his glasses (bril in Dutch), which now serves as a metaphor for Brielle. The Dutch celebrate this day with jokes and humour.
Generally, the joke players, pranksters or hoaxters expose their actions by yelling April fool(s) at the victims (April fools). Mass media outlets such as radio, TV stations, newspapers, websites are also involved in pranking the public and report the pranks as such on the following day. A good example is 1957, through the BBC’s Swiss Spaghetti Harvest broadcasted in their Panorama current affairs series showing Swiss farmers harvesting freshly grown spaghetti. The BBC was later flooded with requests to buy the spaghetti plant which forced them to announce the film was a hoax the following day.
The playing of practical pranks and hoaxes on this day is faced with a lot of controversy. On one side, people claim that the pranks, jokes, and hoaxes cause laughter and are good for peoples’ health. On the other hand, others argue that the pranks and hoaxes are rude, manipulative and creepy—mostly because genuine news, orders or warnings conveyed on this day are usually misinterpreted as pranks or just ignored which leads to confusion, misinformation, waste of resources, danger and so on. Examples, where genuine news was mistaken for jokes on April 1st, include:
1946: Aleutian Island earthquake’s tsunami which killed 165 people in Alaska and Hawaii.
2005: Mitch Hedberg’s death, which occurred on March 29th and reported on 1st April.
2005: Power Puff Girls Z announcement.
2009: Cancellation of the Guiding Light soap opera.
Although All Fools Day has been celebrated since the 19th century all over the world after gaining popularity, it is not a statutory holiday in any country. However, most countries celebrate April Fools’ Day on April 1st.
Spain, Philippines, and Hispanic America observe the Day of Holy Innocents, which is a Christian celebration that is marked by playing pranks. Observations of such prank days are common in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Belgium.
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