In America on April Fools’ Day, many people celebrate by prank calling their friends, using a whoopie cushion, switching salt and pepper in the shakers, super gluing coins to the sidewalk, having various alarm clocks in a family members room go off at various times, putting holes in a plastic cup and seeing the victim of the prank have their drink dribbling on their shirt, and other various activities. Many countries also celebrate April Fools Day in their own special ways and here is how they do it.
In Scotland, it is called Taily Day since they celebrate by pranks aimed around the buttocks. Also the infamous “kick me” sign that someone wears on their back can also be traced back to Scotland.
In England, they only play jokes on each other in the morning because ,if they play tricks on each other in the afternoon it is considered bad luck. Fools are called “Gobb” or “Gobby” and if you are the victim of the joke, you would be called the noodle.
In Rome, April Fools’ Day is known as the festival of Hillria, which celebrates the God of Attis on March 25.
In Portugal, April Fools’ Day is on two days, the Sunday and Monday before Lent, and in their tradition with pranks they throw flour at their friends.
In the history of Ireland, tricks could only be played until noon and they would send notes that read, “send the fool further” and then the note would also have an Irish verse on it, which usually meant “Don’t Laugh.” Today, they still have all sorts of fun playing tricks on each other.
In Italy, the children celebrate April Fools’ by attaching a paper fish to their friend’s back and shouting out that they are the fool.
In Poland, April Fools’ Day is a holiday that is for the children and they call it Pryma Apryelis and children dress up in costumes and play jokes on one another.
In Sweden, they leave phone numbers so that when the person calls the number, they are talking to a complete stranger; the media and TV stations in Sweden are also in on the fun. They also chant the saying “April, April you silly fish, I can fool you as I wish.”
So since the history and traditions have been told, what do you have planned for April 1 this year?