Although it's not technically an official holiday, April Fools' Day has become a tradition for kids and adults alike. I remember sneaking around late at night to set up my pranks for early morning surprises. I married a man who LOVES April Fools' Day, so the tradition continues with my own kids.
So, if it's not an actual holiday, how did it begin?
The truth is, nobody really knows. And THAT's no April Fools' joke! However, there are some theories....
😂 Legend has it that April Fools' Day started way back in 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Some folks were slow to get the news - or ignored it completely - that the start of the new year had moved to January 1st. They continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1st... and quickly became the butt of jokes and pranks. They often had paper fish placed on their backs and were referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish)...which symbolized a young, easily caught fish or a gullible person.
😂 April Fools’ Day has also been linked to festivals like Hilaria, which was a celebration in ancient Rome during which people dressed up in disguises at the end of March.
😂 Many believe that April Fools’ Day was tied to the vernal equinox (first day of spring) in the Northern Hemisphere, because Mother Nature fools people with changing, unpredictable weather.
😂 Nowadays, people have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations, websites, and even regular old people on social media have joined in the tradition of trying to tricks their audiences.
Check out some of the more notable April Fool's Day events of times past:
18th Century - April Fools’ Day spread throughout Britain
18th Century - Scotland began the tradition of a two-day event celebrating April Fool's Day. Day 1 started with “hunting the gowk” during which people were sent on fake errands (gowk is a word for cuckoo bird, a symbol for fool). Day 2 was called Tailie Day, which consisted of pranks involving people’s buttocks (what???), such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on them.
1957 - The BBC announced that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop. They even showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees, and fooled tons of viewers!
1985 - Sports Illustrated told its readers about a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a fastball over 168 miles per hour. Of course, this was a made - up article that roped its readers in.
1996 - Taco Bell had people up in arms when it announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell.
1998 - Burger King rolled out a “Left-Handed Whopper,” and laughed when scores of customers requested the fake sandwich.
2017 - The internet was overflowing with corporate brands playing pranks on their customers, such a Netflix renting tiny houses, Delta flying their customers to Mars, and the introduction of Whoppers-flavored Toothpaste.
We've gathered some of the best (and easiest!) pranks for you to try this year...
😂 Donut Disguise - A Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts box filled with veggies is sure to trick your friends and family! You might have to run after they open the box, so be prepared!
😂 Locked In/Out - Put clear packaging tape over the deadbolt locks in your house. There's sure to be confusion when the unlocker tries to get in/out!
😂 Frozen Breakfast - Freeze your kids' cereal, milk and spoon in the bowl, and serve it to them in the morning that way. The look of confusion is hilarious.
😂 Googly Eyes - Googly eyes are cheap and plentiful...place them on anything and everything, from the food in the fridge to your family pictures. Googly eyes are just funny.
😂 Family Swap - Replace a few of the framed family pictures in your house with pictures of celebrities or animals. See if your family notices.
😂 Stiff Drink - Make a glass of milk or juice impossible to drink by adding gelatin (and a straw before it solidifies!).
😂 Brown E's - Offer brownies to your family or friends. When they say yes, give them brown E's. They will love it...NOT.
😂 Meatloaf Cake - This one doubles as dinner....make meatloaf in two round cake pans, and frost with mashed potatoes.
😂 Breakfast for Dessert - Check out our article on how to pull this prank off!
😂 Shocking Steps - Hide bubble wrap under a carpet and wait for your victim to step on it. This works best on a wood or tile floor.
😂 Sticky Situation - I love putting Scotch Tape on my kids while they are sleeping. They wake up and are like, what the? LOL! This trick works best on kids who are old enough to know not to put the tape in their mouths... and avoid the hair!
😂 Missing Shoe - My hubs likes to steal one shoe from each pair and hide them away. Frustrating? Yes. Harmless? Also yes. (Unless it's a school day and your hubs forgets to let you know where he's hidden them.😳)
😂 Sock Trouble - Sew your kid's sock shut about halfway down.
😂 Shoe Stuffing - Stuff the tips of everyone's shoes with toilet paper or cotton balls.
😂 Slimy Handles - Put a little butter or cream cheese on the inside of the fridge handle or doorknobs around the house. It's a gross, yet harmless surprise.
😂 Coin Lost & Found - Glue a few coins to the sidewalk outside of your house. I've actually done this, and then fooled MYSELF. Awesome.
😂 Happy Morning - Fill the shower (or whole bathroom) with balloons.
😂 Don't Pee Your Pants - Put a helium balloon under the lid of the toilet. Whoever opens it will definitely be startled.
😂 Don't Bug Me! - Hide fake bugs everywhere.... and sit back and enjoy the fun! (A paper bug cut out on the inside of a lampshade is pretty darn funny!)
😂 Salty Surprise - After they go to bed, dip your family's toothbrushes in water, then salt, then let them dry.
No matter its origin, April Fools' Day is a great excuse to have some harmless fun with your family and friends! However you choose to celebrate this non-holiday, be sure to have fun!
