Origin Of April Fools’ Day

Happy April Fools’ Day! Though not a national holiday, April 1st (also known as All Fools’ Day) is widely recognized as a day when people play harmless practical jokes on each other. In Italy, Belgium, & France they call it April Fish Day taping a picture of a fish on an unsuspecting friend, fellow student, or co-worker! I kid you not, that’s 100% true!

Its origin is uncertain to say the least, I’ve read at least a dozen different accounts of its possible beginnings. To be honest, you’ll just have to pick out the one you like best. One of the earliest recorded April Fools’ pranks was in Chaucer’s 1392 Canterbury Tales where readers misinterpretation of March 32nd as a valid date really being April 1st. Heck, I would’ve fallen for that one!

Pictured here is an April Fools’ joke in Copenhagen, Denmark a few years ago showing a subway car breaking thru the pavement. The best prank on me was at the Chicago International Airport having just touched down taxing past a banner reading “Welcome To Los Angeles”…  way too cool!

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