The time for jokes and hijinks has come again. Every April 1, people around the world compete to play each other the worst (or best, depending on whether you’re on the receiving end or not) whether that’s something as simple as a whooping cough on a chair or the extreme of a bogus proposal.
While the exact origin of the day is not known, it is believed to have been celebrated in the UK since the 19th century.e century.
Back then, pranks were usually played on children, but today everyone is fair game.
This year, Twitter users with verified badges will lose their checkmarks on April 1, unless they pay for Elon Musk’s Twitter Blue subscription service.
Here’s everything you need to know about what is (supposedly) the funniest day of the year, April 1.
The origin of April Fools’ Day
Newspapers often fool their readers with fake stories on April 1
/ Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty ImagesThere are several theories about where the day actually came from, but the most likely seems to go all the way back to late 16e century, when Pope Gregory XIII decided it would be a good idea to adopt the Gregorian calendar (no prize for guessing why).
Where the year had previously started at the end of March, it was moved to January 1 under the new calendar rules.
Even though the news was spread, some people clearly didn’t get the message in time and continued to celebrate New Year’s Eve on April 1. Because of this they were ridiculed and branded as ‘fools’; thus began the April Fools’ Day tradition.
April Fools’ Day around the world
People take photos of a giant straw fish in Nice, France, installed on April 1
/ Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images- In France, children fool their friends by sticking a paper fish on their back.
- In Scotland, April 1 lasts two days. On the second day, known as Taily Day, pranks are played with the backside. This is thought to be where “kick me” signs come from.
- In New York, press releases have been issued every year since 1986 for a non-existent April Fools’ Day Parade.
- In Canada and the UK, April Fools’ Day pranks may only be played until noon.
- In Poland, April Fools’ Day is celebrated so strongly that an anti-Turkish alliance signed on April 1 with Leopold I in 1683 had to be retroactively extended to March 31.
Is April 1 a holiday?
Yes, April 1 is a national holiday and everyone has a day off.
Fooled you! It’s business as usual, I’m afraid.
Last year’s April 1 jokes
Check out some funny April Fools jokes from last year – and hope you don’t get caught when April Fools rolls around this time.
Geordie presenters Ant and Dec fooled fans by telling them, “We joined the crypto revolution and launched Toon Coin,” and thanked “Safri Pollo” for their help – an April Fools anagram.
Discount supermarket Aldi pretended to launch their own airline, Aldiair.
Delivery service Deliveroo joined in, joking about banning people from ordering pineapple on pizza through the app.