Have You Ever Wondered Why People Pull Pranks on April 1st?
Tomorrow is officially April 1st, aka April Fools’ Day and if you haven’t already been thinking up a brilliant prank you probably are now that I’ve reminded you.
Remember when you were a kid and you pulled harmless pranks like shrink wrapping the toilet or putting something sticky under a car door handle?
Those pranks are pretty innocent and while you’ll want to watch your back tomorrow, have you ever wondered why people pull pranks on April 1st?
I have and I am going to tell you why.
Have You Ever Wondered Why People Pull Pranks on April 1st?
Most of where and when April Fools’ Day was originated still remains a mystery but most historians believe it all dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1563.
It was said that people who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (meaning April fish) to symbolize a young, easily caught fish and a gullible person. (Source)
Throughout history the pranks continued from lavish parties where people wore disguises to traditional events held in Scotland that basically sent people on fake, wild goose hunt chases only to prove to those people they were punked and had a prank played on them.
Now days, people go to great lengths to pull pranks and hoaxes on family, friends and even co-workers.
Over the years we’ve ever seen major corporations get into the prank filled day by announcing fake product releases and announcements.
Take LEGO for example, last year they announced a LEGO vacuum that promises to pick up LEGO’s to ensure parents avoid pain from stepping on them.
While it all seems fun and games, many are already posting about what NOT to prank or joke about tomorrow.
Twitter users are posting things like this:
And I don’t blame them.
Let’s just remember tomorrow is supposed to be a day filled with fun and we shouldn’t take anything done or said too seriously (as long as nobody gets hurt)!
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