IT’S ALL ABOUT Pranksters, jokester and ‘got ya’
There’s no doubt that every single one of you has been the gullible "butt" of an April Fools’ Day joke, and you have undoubtedly played a harmless prank on your neighbor or best friend! It happens time and again to me as my middle name is "gullible-as-all-get-out"! Unfortunately, everybody in my life has said the same to me...you are the most gullible person! Generally, April Fools’ Day rolls around without even realizing its April 1st, otherwise maybe it wouldn’t be such a blow to my ego when whomever gets me again!! But, if you tell me something, it’s your word, and it’s believed to the bitter end....except, for April Fools’ Day when there’s a good chance it’s a hoax, and you "got-me-again"! Maybe one of these days I’ll learn. In the mean time do you realize that this day is celebrated and pranked by the majority of the world?
There’s one particular April Fools’ Day story which we still tell from time to time and laugh every time it’s told. It was totally "set-up" and pranked by my mom and dad to their very best friends in the neighborhood. Everybody on their private road had lived there 30 plus years and raised their families together. They were the greatest of friends. They socialized, partied, dined out, drank coffee, sewed together and called each other especially when there was a new bird in the yard that each of them needed to see. Mom, the most practical joker and instigator was always coming up with crazy off-thewall ideas. While shopping one day, she saw a perfect replica of a plaster of Paris Woodpecker and immediately devised a scheme in her mind for her best friend and neighbor. She purchased that beautiful colored bird and hurried home to dad, who instantly became the accomplice. Admittedly he probably had no choice!!
In the very early morning hours of April 1st, dad took his hammer, nail and "the bird" ...snuck down the street and into their friend’s backyard. He knew where Mr. B kept his short ladder, borrowed it and nailed that woodpecker high enough on an oak tree, fairly close to their breakfast window where they sipped morning coffee every day. When the drapes would be opened, there was absolutely no way they wouldn’t see that bird during breakfast! He put the ladder back and scurried home unnoticed. Mom was waiting for him with an open door to make sure the crime was carried out and he wasn’t busted! Wah-la, accomplished, and they both laughed!
That particular April 1st fell on a Saturday and leisurely the B’s got up and took their time opening the drapes and making breakfast. As they sat in the bay window at the breakfast table drinking coffee and admiring their pond and the beautiful morning, Mrs. B exclaimed excitedly, "Oh look Ed, look, (as she pointed)... look at that beautiful woodpecker!" They both watched it intently and agreed it was the most beautiful bird they had seen in such a long time. Mrs. B said "Maybe it’s going to build a nest right there in that tree, wouldn’t that be lovely?....and we would have something that Mrs. R wouldn’t!" They were convinced that a nest was going in! Mrs. B got the binoculars and watched that bird for a long time, getting more and more excited with every passing minute. Breakfast was over and they went about their normal day. However, every time they passed by the window they would look out and notice that beautiful woodpecker was still there and continue to be happy all over again....woodpecker babies right there in a new nest!!
Twilight was setting in and as they sat down for dinner Mrs. B was beginning to get concerned and said "Ed, do you think something is wrong with that woodpecker? He has been there all day, maybe you better go out and check on him! I think he might have his pecker stuck in the tree and can’t get away!"
Mr. B obliged and walked out to the backyard. As he looked up into the tree, he realized what they had been looking at all day! He got the ladder, rescued the bird, and marched into Mrs. B. whereby they both marched down the street over to MOM! They all doubled over in laughter, tears rolling down faces, as Mrs. B told the story and mom and dad yelled APRIL FOOLS!!
We, in the US aren’t the only ones that celebrate April Fools’ Day, which is at times called "All Fools’ Day". The "player" of the joke, eventually divulges their prank by confessing and shouting "April Fools" and the recipient basically becomes the "April Fool"!
Historically the official day dates back to the 19th century but there are a multitude of stories relative to hilarious acts from many countries prior to that time. Sometimes the media gets involved to make the prank seem much more real and believable. Then, the following day they let their readers know what they were doing. Wonder what jokes our local papers will pull on us...or if they will?
In 1561 a nobleman sent his servants on silly errands on April 1st, as noted by a Flemish poet.
In 1572 in the Netherlands, the origin of April Fools’ Day was thought to be a result of a Dutch victory whereby a Spaniard was defeated at Brielle on April 1st. A Dutch proverb resulted with a translation of: "On the first of April, Alva lost his glasses." Thus, ongoing the celebration of April Fools’ began.
In 1686 one can find the first British reference to April Fools’ Day, or "Fooles holy day". April 1, 1698, a group of people were talked into going to the Tower of London to see the "Washing of the Lions", but obviously that event never happened! I might have fallen for that one!
In Britain as well as other countries that adopted their April Fools’ tradition, jokes have to be completed by noon, otherwise it is considered "not classy" and inappropriate and the jokester is labeled the fool!
The tradition in Ireland is to hand a letter to a poor soul to deliver to another person; that person opens the letter, hands it back to the "soul" with instructions to take it to another person. The letter says "send the fool further"! And, so it continues to the next and the next!
The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) practice publishing one phony story in the newspaper, usually on the front page but not the headline. Later revealed as April Fools’.
"April fish" day takes place in Italy, France, Belgium and parts of Switzerland and Canada. The prankster tries to attach a paper fish to a poor-souls back without being noticed. These countries are also good at publishing a phony newspaper story generally mentioning a reference to a fish in the story hinting that it’s part of April Fish day!
The Ukraine celebrates with a festival and an expression which translates to "April First, trust nobody". The festival is a large parade, concerts, fairs and performances. After dressing the main statue in the center of town in funny garb, they dress in costumes and walk through the crowds playing jokes on the public.
Sometimes TV stations get involved in the hilarity. In 1957 the BBC published a film in their current affairs series showing Swiss farmers picking fresh-grown spaghetti. They called the episode the "Swiss Spaghetti Harvest". Consequently, they were flooded with calls wanting to buy a spaghetti plant, causing them to fessup... it was an April Fools’ hoax!
Menorca, the Spanish island, celebrates "Fooling Day", while Brazil celebrates the "Day of the Lie". Argentinians have the expression "don’t be as gullible as the victim of the prank". Mexico’s phrase is "innocent forever"! In Columbia the expression is "Let it go; today it’s Innocent’s Day."
Depending on what side of the April Fool’s Day joke you find yourself, it can be good as it generally makes you laugh out loud, relieving stress, once you get over being made the fool! Or bad if it turns out to be a terrible hoax.
Nevertheless, it’s a day to pay attention and not get caught (with the rest of the world) as pranks are running rampant. And, who knows...one day I’ll finally get you back...and you won’t see it coming from "gullible-as-all-get-out"! Have a light hearted fun April Fools’, Fish, Fooles or ... wherever you are DAY!
Great fun trivia from the internet!