The first of the month is not the same for every month of the year. April starts with a funny surprise for those who are fools…
It is known worldwide for being a day full of jokes and pranks, but the origins of this holiday are not entirely clear. However, it is believed to have originated in Europe during the Middle Ages.
One theory suggests that April Fools’ Day began in France in the 16th century. At the time, the country switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, which moved New Year’s Day from April 1st to January 1st. However, some people continued to celebrate the old New Year on April 1st, earning them the nickname “April fools.” They were often the subject of practical jokes and ridicule.
Over time, April Fools’ Day has become a popular holiday around the world, with people playing jokes and pranks on each other. With the rise of social media, digital pranks and hoaxes have increased, and companies and brands have also joined in on the fun by releasing fake products and announcements on April 1st.
Practical jokes on April Fools Day
Here are a few examples of practical jokes from around the world.
In Japan, a zoo claimed to have a giant penguin that was 165cm tall and weighed 80 kilograms, when it was actually a man dressed up in a penguin suit.
A British newspaper printed an article stating that the European Union had decided to ban April Fool’s Day, which turned out to be a hoax.
In 1998, Burger King published an advert in the magazine USA Today, offering new ‘Left-handed Whoppas’ for the 32 million left-handed Americans, and thousands of customers ordered the new burger in the restaurants!
English Vocabulary
If you want to participate in the fun, here is some vocabulary you might find useful to use on this day:
| a practical joke | a trick that surprises someone and makes them look silly |
| to play a joke on someone | to do something to somebody which makes people laugh |
| to fall for something | to be tricked into believing something that is not true |
| a hoax | a plan to deceive a large group of people |
| hilarious | very funny |
| to fool someone | to trick someone |
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