1 April, April Fools’ Day: History of the Holiday and the Most Famous Pranks

1 April is the one day of the year when pranks are not just forgiven but expected. Many countries celebrate it, although it is not an official holiday anywhere. Here is where the tradition comes from, which pranks made history and how to joke so that everyone laughs.

The best end to a prank is real flowers: tulips and flowers in a box.

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Where April Fools’ Day comes from

There is no definite answer, only several theories. The most popular links the day to 16th-century France: when the start of the year moved to 1 January, people who kept celebrating the New Year in spring were mocked. Hence the French “April fish”, a paper fish secretly stuck on someone’s back. In Scotland pranks lasted two days, and in England they were only allowed until noon.

How different countries joke

• France and Italy. The “April fish” is a paper fish stuck on someone’s back, and patisseries sell chocolate fish.
• Britain. By tradition the jokes stop at noon, and anyone who pranks later is the April fool.
• Ukraine. Since the 1970s Odesa has celebrated Humorina on 1 April, a city festival of humour with a carnival parade.

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Pranks that made history

• The spaghetti harvest (1957). The BBC programme Panorama showed Swiss families “harvesting spaghetti” from trees. After the broadcast, viewers called to ask how to grow a spaghetti tree of their own.
• Newspaper hoaxes. Many publications traditionally run spoof stories on 1 April and own up the next day.
• Flower jokes. A bouquet of sweet “flowers”, a cactus instead of a promised rose, or flowers hidden somewhere unexpected: a kind prank that still ends with a gift.

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How to prank kindly

• A joke should never humiliate or frighten anyone.
• Do not prank people who are going through a hard time.
• The best ending to a prank is a nice surprise, such as a real bouquet in place of the joke one.

For spring gift ideas, see early spring flowers and green Odesa.

FAQ

Why is April Fools’ Day on 1 April?

Nobody knows for sure. It is most often linked to France moving the start of the year in the 16th century and to spring festivals of renewal.

What is Humorina?

Odesa’s festival of humour, held on 1 April since the 1970s, with a carnival, concerts and street performances.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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