April Fools Day

April Fool's Day History

April Fool's Day is centered around the execution of harmless jokes, practical jokes, and hoaxes, all in good humor. Marked by the spirit of laughter and light-hearted pranks, this tradition aims to bring a playful vibe into our everyday seriousness and routine. The pranks and jokes, though kept simple and safe, are often innovative and spread far and wide, especially with the advent of digital media. The joking custom involves a wide array of people, from friends and family to teachers, students, and coworkers, fostering a sense of community.

The origin of April Fool's Day is uncertain, with theories suggesting it may have started in France around 1582 when the country switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, resulting in a shift of New Year's Day from end of March to January. This change led to confusion, and those still celebrating the old New Year's Day became a target of jokes. In Canada, references to the holiday can be traced back to the early 19th century in published almanacs. April Fool's Day holds significant relevance as it offers Canadians a reprieve from the long dark winters, allowing them to engage in lighthearted pranks and laughter.

In Canada, April Fool's Day is typically celebrated in much the same way as it is around the world. Individuals play pranks on each other and the victims are called April Fools until noon. After noon, according to tradition, the roles reverse and anyone who plays a prank becomes the April Fool. Media outlets also get into the spirit, with radio, TV stations, and even newspapers publishing fictitious stories designed to trick their audiences. April Fool's Day takes place annually on April 1.

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.
• In 2000, one of the most notable pranks was when a Canadian radio station announced that a massive iceberg had broken off from the arctic and was floating towards Newfoundland. They claimed that it contained enough fresh water to solve the worldwide drought and that the government was planning to sell the water to other countries.
• Another notable April fools prank was the Bloor Street Viaduct Dinosaur Eggs: In 1987, a Toronto Sun April Fool's Day story said that dinosaur eggs had been discovered during the construction of the Bloor Street Viaduct, delaying completion of the project. The report was taken seriously by several people, including an upset mother who had hoped the project would have been completed before her child started school.

In the News and Trending in Canada for April Fools Day

Top things to do in Canada 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.
• Visit the Joke Shop in Vancouver: This shop located in Granville Island in Vancouver is home to a wide range of pranks, gags and funny costumes that are perfect for the occasion.
• Attend Spruce Meadows Prairie Diner Prank: This annual gathering at Spruce Meadows in Calgary sees participants indulging in absolutely outrageous pranks. These pranks are then showcased on the Prairie Diner television show.