First of April - I don’t trust anyone! What do we know about April Fool's Day?

01.04.2024 Brazil 64

April Fool's Day, whose exact origins remain uncertain, owes its development largely to the influence of the ancient Romans, Western Europeans and the inhabitants of the British Isles, according to historians. It's interesting to note that April Fools' Day actually has a surprisingly broad history, given that it is built entirely on harmless deception. In some cultures, its celebration extends beyond one day in April, opening the floodgates to chaos for several seasons.

One universal aspect of humanity is certain: the penchant for engaging in playful, mischievous mischief. Likewise, April Fools' Day is a holiday centered on harmless deception. Whether you encounter such jokes or not will largely depend on your social circle rather than your geographic location. However, it is fascinating to see the various pranks being practiced around the world in moments of playful whimsy. How you interpret this information is up to you; Consider this as either an inspiration or a warning that April Fools' Day pranks know no bounds.

Here are some countries that take it to the next level:

France: In France, for example, a common practice is to stick paper fish on unsuspecting people, reminiscent of an updated version of the classic "Kick Me" sign. This harmless gesture, accompanied by the phrase "Poisson d'Avril" (April fish), can cause suppressed laughter from others.
Latin America: Throughout Latin America, "El Dia de los Inocentes" (Day of the Innocents) on late December turns the solemn Catholic holiday into a day of jokes and pranks, while Brazil favors April 1 as the preferred day for pranks, calling it "Dia das Mentiras" (Day of Lies).
Iran: In Iran traditions celebrated for centuries with Sizdah Bedar, observed on April 1 or 2, include elements of playful deception intertwined with superstition and spring festivities.
Scotland: This destination extends the fun for two days, with Gawk Hunt Day and During the day, Teili is where locals engage in various harmless pranks and jokes.
Poland: Proud of the unique tradition of Prima Aprilis, offering pranksters a cautious farewell phrase: “Prima Aprilis, uważaj, bo się pomylisz!” (April Fool's Day, be careful - you might be wrong!), a nugget of wisdom suitable for any time of year.
Ireland: This country follows a tradition that involves sending people on "silly errands", while in the Netherlands citizens playfully throw herrings at their neighbors.
Germany: Germans participate in "Aprilscherz", a tradition of dreaming up incredible but harmless stories to deceive others, while the Greeks believe that successfully deceiving someone on this day brings good luck for the entire coming year.
Portugal: Portugal is moving away from April 1 celebrations, preferring Sundays and Mondays before Lent for their pranks, including throwing flour.
Spain: Meanwhile, Spain celebrates the Day of the Holy Innocents on December 28, when pranksters are absolved of responsibility for their mischievous deeds by maintaining the innocence of their jokes.