April 1 is known all over the world as April Fools’ Day. Throughout the day, people try to fool other with jokes, pranks and hoaxes. Although April Fools’ has unknown origins, there are some sources that say that this worldwide event can be traced back to Noah’s time when, on the Hebrew month’s first day, he supposedly sent off his dove before the waters retreated.
However it started or wherever it originated, people have come to love April Fools’ Day as it is usually a jolly, fun and humorous day.
The jokes, pranks and hoaxes start as soon as the clock strikes 12 midnight. With today’s highly advanced technology, even social networks like Facebook and twitter are filled with April Fools’ pranks.
Below are some of the most popular hoaxes, jokes and pranks of all time.
*In 1957, BBC news showed and announced that Swiss peasants were able to pull strands of spaghetti from trees. The response was tremendous as callers all waited in line to get an idea of how they could grow their own spaghetti trees.
*In Sweden, 1962; way before televisions were in color, technical expert Kjell Stensson went on camera in the only country’s only TV channel. He told televiewers that by putting nylon stockings over their television screens, they’d be able to watch all shows in color. Stensson even demonstrated to the audience how the process was to be done.
*In 1977, a lot of people called The Guardian to verify the information they published about a semi-colon shaped islands known collectively as San Seriffe. The 7-page article comprehensively described the small republic, even naming its capital (Bodoni) and its leader (General Pica). San Seriffe was described as divided into two islands, Upper Caise and Lower Caise. The phone calls came in as readers wanted to know more about San Seriffe, which was also described as the perfect vacation spot. Everything, of course, was an April Fools’ joke: practically all the details published about the small republic, including its name, were printer’s terminology (though some were changed typographically)! This prank eventually led to what is known to be responsible for the excitement all the British media’s excitement for April Foolery.
*Burger King, in 1998, came out with an ad in USA Today that introduced to the public their new product: the Left Handed Whopper. The new BK offering was supposedly meant for the over 30 million Americans who were left handed. All the ingredients of the original BK Whopper were also in the left handed version; however, to help ease the burden of left handed customers, all condiments were rotated in 180°! Following the release of the ad, Burger King received many calls, with some coming from right handed customers who demanded a version specifically made for them!
*After a British astronomer announced that a remarkable astronomical event was to take place that morning; where the gravitational alignment of the planets would affect and decrease the Earth’s gravity, a lot of people called in to share their experiences. There was even one caller who claimed that she and her friends rose from their chairs and floated all over the room. The announcement was made on BBC Radio by Patrick Moore.
*April Fools’ Day in 1982’s popular case of the “interfering brassieres” made waves after the Daily Mail reported the selling of thousands of what they called rogue bras. These bras had “problems”, the most common of which was that it used copper used for fire alarms as support wires. This meant that when the copper came into contact with body heat and the bra’s nylon, it would produce static electricity. People were warned that this would cause discomfort and would affect signals for radio and television. As a result, one employer immediately asked his female employees to inform him what type of brassiere they had on.
*In the First World War, in 1915, German soldiers saw a French aviator flying over their camp and dropping something that looked like a bomb, they scattered and ran. They waited for the bomb to explode, and when it didn’t, they crept back into the area where it fell. It was only then that they found out what it was: a large football with a note tied around it – plus a message that had them laughing: “April Fool!”
*In 1959, one town in England had its residents waking up to see a white footprint trail on the main street. When the residents reached the end of the trail, they found only three words: “I must fly.”
There are actually many more pranks, jokes and hoaxes listed in the world’s top 100 list. However, these are the ones that generate the funniest impact.
What about you? I’m sure you have April Fools’ jokes and pranks of your own. Care to share them with us?
-Maia Fortich-Poblete-
(Source: http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/)
