April Fools Day

April Fool's Day History

April Fool's Day is globally recognized as a day to play practical jokes and hoaxes. The customs and practices associated with April Fools’ Day do vary from one country to another, but they mostly involve playing pranks or spreading hoaxes, with the pranksters later declaring “April Fool!” to the unsuspecting victims. Amid the amusement it generates, the day serves as a unique way of reinforcing social ties through shared laughter, promoting creativity as people devise innovative pranks, and providing a sanctioned occasion for mischief in many societies around the world.

While the exact origins of April Fool’s Day remain uncertain, some historians trace its roots back to 16th-century France when the Julian calendar, which started the new year around April, was replaced by the Gregorian calendar that began the year on January 1. People who continued with the old tradition were mocked and thus, the genesis of a prank day. In India, although not officially recognized as a holiday, April Fool's Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm. The day has no religious significance but its observance has been inextricably woven into the fabric of popular culture through television, newspapers, and social media platforms, that often join in with pranks of their own.

Indian celebrations of April Fool's Day bear a semblance to its global counterparts, predominantly involving pranks played among friends, colleagues, and family members. Much like other countries, media outlets in India too run faux stories and advertisements, contributing to the playful spirit of the day. Corporates also leverage the occasion for brand engagement, producing hoax advertisements or faux product announcements. April Fool's Day occurs on the first of April each year.

Facts about April Fools Day

• For April Fool's Day 2022, 7-Eleven announced a new product line named Tiny Gulp. The Tiny Gulp holds 0.7 ounces and only cost 7 cents, perfect for those who want a tiny taste of soda or slushie.
• in 2023, Duolingo announced their "Duolingo for Pets" program, teaching pets new languages with the help of birdseed and catnip rewards.
  For April Fool's Day 2022, Twitter announced that they are working on an “Edit-Tweet” button, which would let users go back to previous tweets to correct typos.
• Indian celebrities, like film stars and sports personalities, are often involved in public pranks, created by media houses for their audience's entertainment.
• Indian celebrities, like film stars and sports personalities, are often involved in public pranks, created by media houses for their audience's entertainment.

In the News and Trending in India for April Fools Day

Top things to do in India for April Fools Day

• Stay on guard! You will surely be the victim of a prank during April Fools' Day, so be extra-careful of pranksters looming around you.
• One of the best ways to fool someone on April Fools' Day is to call them first thing in the morning. This way, they are less likely to realize that it is April Fools' Day. Our top 3 phone call pranks:
  1) Breaking news - create a fictional breaking news item about politics, celebrities, events in your city, etc.
  2) You're late for work - tell your friend that the time is 11AM and they aren't at work or school yet.
  3) Escaped monkey - a monkey from the local zoo is wandering in the backyard. You just saw a news clip of the monkey on the local news.
• Prank Friends and Family: The most common practice on April Fool's Day is playing harmless pranks or jokes on friends, family members and co-workers. Some people also share funny memes, messages, and videos on social media.
• Be on the lookout for Pranks played byTelevision and Radio Shows: Many TV channels and radio stations plan special programs, prank calls, and shows on this day, incorporating humor and fun elements to entertain their audience.