How We Really Feel About April Fools’ Pranks!
Haha, the joke is on you!
April Fools’ Day, also known as All Fools’ Day, is a day dedicated to playing pranks and practical jokes on others. The holiday, held on April 1 each year, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures but it turns out we don’t all feel the same way about April Fools’ pranks.
How We Really Feel About April Fools’ Day
A poll asked people how they really feel about April Fools’ Day! When it comes to April fools’ Day pranks in general, about 45% of people polled find them amusing. 47% think the jokes are annoying.
When asked how people feel about pranks being played on them, 30% said they don’t like it. Another 30% say that they don’t mind. Meanwhile, the majority of people who answered said don’t like to be the ones pulling the prank!
So if not everyone loves the holiday … how did it get started and why do we still celebrate it?
The Origins Of April Fools’ Day
The origins of this popular holiday are not entirely clear. Some historians believe it dates back to ancient Roman festivals celebrated at the end of March. One such festival was Hilaria. During Hilaria, people dressed up and mocked one another. Others believe it’s connected to Mother Nature fooling people with unpredictable weather as we head into spring.
Another theory is that the holiday is linked to the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. When this happened, the New Year moved from the spring equinox, which began around April 1, to January 1. Those who continued to celebrate New Year’s Day during the last week of March through April 1 were considered fools. As a result, they would be the target of pranks and jokes. Oftentimes, this included having a paper fish stuck to your back and being called “poisson d’avril,” which means April fish.
Regardless of how it started, the tradition eventually spread throughout Europe and other parts of the world. As it spread, each culture developed its own unique April Fools’ Day customs and traditions. Today, April Fools’ Day is celebrated in many countries around the world as a day of lighthearted fun and laughter.
While the exact history is a mystery, the embrace of April Fools’ Day jokes by the media and major brands has ensured the unofficial holiday’s long life. And chances are, we will continue to celebrate it for years to come … even if many of us don’t love it!
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