April Fools’ Day:

Set on the first day of the month of April, this day is specially designed for people to play practical jokes against each other and sending them on what can be termed as fools’ errands.

Twitter Hashtags:

#AprilFool’sDay

Why April Fools’ Day?

This is a special day for friends, family, and loved ones, proving an opportunity to make fun of each other. On this day, the first impulse of a sibling, friend, classmate, or colleague at work is to send the other person on a fools’ errand. There are multiple ways through which this day is observed, including telling your friend that their shoelaces are loose or that they are in trouble for one reason or the other.

April Fools’ Day has for a long time now been a day during which people play practical jokes and tricks against the unaware. The day presents an opportunity even for children to tricking their parents into thinking that they have broken a bone. This sends the parents on a long planning spree.

Among the most common jokes on this day include caramel that has been covered with onions, fake doggy doo-do in inconvenient locations. Businesses have also been witnessed participating in this day by releasing products that are either impractical or very unbelievable just for the fun of the day. Newspapers on the other hand print incredible headlines that catch readers off-guard, sending them on a worry spree.

There is no doubt that the trick that makes for a good April Fools’ Day follows a good planning scheme, and requires timeliness, in the sense that you are the first one to pull the trick off. This is because it is pointless to pursue a prank that has already been executed by someone else because the moment the foolery has been triggered, everyone around will now be on high alert, thereby eliminating the element of surprise characteristic of this amazing day.

How we can observe April Fools’ Day:

Some of the ways through which we can observe this day include:

• Pull a prank on someone

As funny and awkward as this sounds one of the most basic ways to celebrate or observe this day is by pulling a trick on someone, which could be your friend, girlfriend/boyfriend, or any loved one for that matter. People have made a habit of doing this on this auspicious day as it helps them appreciate this day for what it really is- a chance for value-adding fun.

• Post on social media

You can also observe this by posting on social media platforms using the #AprilFools’Day. This will achieve much in raising awareness to people from different parts of the world so that they too can join in the movement to observe the special day.

• Research about the history of this day

You can also observe this day by researching about its history, with a view to determine its origin and how it has been able to survive through many decades despite changing times, and generations. You can choose to do this on yourself as an individual project or with friends and other research enthusiasts and thereafter share your findings with other people.

Interesting Facts about April Fools’ Day:

Some of the most interesting facts about this day include:

• In 1992, the Times of London reported that Belgium was negotiating to join Holland.
• In 1864, The Evening Star of Islington advertised a display of donkeys at the Agricultural Hall the next day. The people rushed to witness the event. Those who arrived early soon realized who the donkeys on display were.
• In 1950, The Progress in Clearfield Pennsylvania published a picture of a UFO flying over the town. Claiming to have “scooped” larger publications of the first-ever published picture of a real flying saucer.

History of April Fools’ Day:

It is believed that this day is observed simply to appreciate Mother Nature for the many tricks it plays on people, including the unpredictable weather characteristic of this day. There are yet other theories that propose that this day traces its origins to the Indian tradition of Holi, wherein people practice the same tricks, as well as the Hilaria Roman festival.

Nonetheless, the earliest known reference to April Fools’ Day is in Chaucer’s 1392 Nun’s Priest’s Tale. Even so, the reference is so vague, and possibly not even occurring on the first of April, leaving doubt as to whether it is the first reference.