April Fools’ Day

April Fools’ Day, celebrated every year on April 1, is a unique holiday that has been observed by many people for hundreds of years since the Middle Ages. Today, it is well-known in almost all countries of the world, especially in Europe and the USA. Although it is not a public holiday, almost no one forgets about it. On April 1, everyone who loves this holiday arranges playful pranks and hoaxes for their relatives, friends, and close acquaintances. These pranks can range from harmless jokes to more elaborate tricks that can cause temporary confusion or fear.

History

There are several popular theories about why this day falls on the first day of April each year, but there is no definitive explanation. One theory suggests that April 1 was once considered a day to celebrate the vernal equinox and was often close to the celebration of Easter in Christian countries.

Another theory posits that many people did not want to stop celebrating the New Year’s week, which, in many European countries, ran from March 25 to April 1. To regulate trade relations, Charles IX issued a decree that the New Year should begin on January 1 throughout his realm. This was necessary because, in some regions, contracts between merchants were completed at the end of December, while in others, they were concluded at the end of March, leading to disagreements. However, some very conservative people continued to believe that the New Year should be celebrated at the end of March, with the culmination of the holiday on April 1. These individuals began to be called “April Fools,” and others would make fun of them. But this is still just a theory.

Almost every European nation that celebrates April 1st today has its own legends and beliefs about the origin of the holiday. Some of these beliefs are amusing, while others can be somewhat eerie. For instance, the Germans seriously consider the strange hypothesis that connects April Fools’ jokes with the fact that Judas Iscariot (the traitor) was born in April.

Fun Facts

• A lot of funny pranks are described in the special list, “The Top 100 April Fools’ Day Hoaxes of All Time.” This ranking of the best jokes truly deserves special attention, including a story about a UFO that supposedly landed in London, which many people believed.
• During World War I, a bomb reportedly fell on the Germans during a battle on April 1, 1915. Some say it was dropped by the French, while others claim it was the British. The bomb, however, did not explode. Instead, it had an inscription: “The first of April!”
• Almost a third of the pranks and hoaxes on April 1 are related to false claims of a girl or a female acquaintance being pregnant, even if there is no romantic involvement between her and the person being pranked.
• On April 1st, trauma surgeons reportedly have significantly more work than on almost any other day.
• Joke of the millennium or just a coincidence? April 1st is also the birthday of the US dollar.

When is April Fools’ Day in 2025?

April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1 each year.

Observations