April Fools' Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Activities Fun
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every April 1
Holiday emoji:: 🃏

April Fools’ Day arrives every April 1, inviting everyone to embrace their inner trickster with lighthearted pranks and amusing hoaxes. While its exact origins are debated, the tradition of playful deception is celebrated globally. Get ready to plan your most creative tricks, share a laugh, and enjoy a day of harmless fun!

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Expected April Fools' Day Deals

While official 2027 promotions are still under wraps, April Fools’ Day often inspires brands to launch humorous, limited-time deals or playful product announcements. Expect quick-service restaurants like Burger King and Taco Bell to tease outlandish menu items, while tech giants like Google and Amazon might roll out amusing, fake product launches. Retailers such as ThinkGeek (now part of GameStop) and Spencer’s frequently offer novelty items perfect for pranks. Even food brands like Oreo have historically engaged with playful marketing. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as April 1 approaches.

Platform Guide for April Fools' Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #AprilFoolsDay. Film your best pranks and reactions, or create a ‘how-to’ guide for pulling off classic jokes.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #AprilFoolsDay. Share visual gags, photo-based pranks, or short video clips of your friends falling for a trick.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #AprilFoolsDay. Share your funniest April Fools’ Day stories or photos of family-friendly pranks.

April Fools' Day Hero

P.T. Barnum

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810–1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician, best remembered for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Known as a master of promotion and a purveyor of 'humbugs' or hoaxes, Barnum delighted in blurring the lines between reality and illusion. His famous hoaxes, such as the 'Fejee Mermaid' and the 'Cardiff Giant,' captivated the public and embodied a spirit of playful deception, making him a fitting figure for April Fools' Day.

History of April Fools' Day

Today, pranking on April Fools’ Day has transcended the confinements of the first day of April to become a year-round internet phenomenon. Thousands of videos on the most popular internet sites emerge everyday, pushing the pranking limit to sometimes dangerous territories. We do NOT condone this and below we’ll illustrate how to allow this holiday to remain true to what it was meant to be – safe, and well, hilarious!

There’s no consensus on how it all began, but a popular theory is that while nowadays, January 1 is when we start the new year, this wasn’t the case before 1592. We used a calendar called the Julian calendar – created by Julius Caesar in 45 BC – which saw every new year begin on April 1! Crazy, we know.

Pope Gregory the 8th created a new method for keeping track of days, which was the start of the calendar we all know and love – the Gregorian calendar. When he moved the date of New Year’s Eve it obviously took some time for everyone to catch on to it. Those who were a bit behind the times still celebrated on April 1, and were considered fools for doing so.

One lesser known, often argued explanation for our beloved prank day is buried in a 1392 book called “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer. One line in this publication simply references “March 32”, and the debate to its meaning was born. Without much context and being dated so far back, the interpretation remains a mystery. Some believe it to be a joke, dawning this annual tradition, while some say it’s none other than a misprint.

Whether we have Gregory the 8th or Geoffrey Chaucer to thank for April Fools’ Day, it has existed for centuries and will continue to cause a flurry of creativity and excitement in the first few weeks of spring.

April Fools' Day timeline

1392

The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer writes the line “March 32” in his book, potentially birthing April Fools' Day.

1500s

France sets the stage

The French adopt January 1 as the first day of the year.

1592

Caesar vs. Pope Greg VIII

Gregorian calendar is introduced to replace the Julian calendar, changing the first day of the new year from April 1 to January 1.

1700s

UK joins the party

April Fools' Day begins to sweep across the UK.

How Businesses Can Celebrate April Fools' Day

Local businesses can embrace April Fools’ Day by engaging in lighthearted, harmless fun with their customers. A coffee shop could offer a ‘decaf coffee that tastes like regular coffee’ special, or a bakery might display a hilariously mislabeled pastry. Retailers could create a ‘fake product’ display that encourages customer interaction and a good laugh. The key is to ensure any pranks are clearly revealed, build goodwill, and avoid genuinely inconveniencing or misleading patrons, fostering a sense of community and humor.

April Fools' Day Media Coverage

April Fools' Day — KCRA (Sacramento, CA)

April Fools' Day - Survey Results

Data gathered by a top Washington DC Marketing Agency

Additional Findings

FULL RANKING OF PRANKS AMERICANS PLAN TO PLAY ON APRIL FOOLS’ DAY

#1: Mind game prank (e.g. gradually moving someone’s desk until it’s far from its original spot) (17%)

#2: Scare tactics (e.g. rubber snake in a chair) (17%)

#3: Lying prank (e.g. saying you’re pregnant (17%)

#4: Prank phone call (13%)

#5: Food-related prank (e.g. toothpaste in an Oreo)

#6: Make it inaccessible prank (e.g. fridge taped up, phone in Jello) (11%)

#7: Elaborate, well-thought-out prank that I film on camera and post to YouTube (7%)

#8: Toilet-related prank (e.g. fake poop in coffee cup) (6%)

FULL RANKING OF PEOPLE AMERICANS PLAN TO PRANK ON APRIL FOOLS’ DAY

#1: Spouse/significant other (20%)

#2: Friend (20%)

#3: My kid(s) (15%)

#4: Co-worker (12%)

#5: Mom (9%)

#6: Boss (5%)

#7: Dad (5%)

#8: Neighbor (5%)

#9: Roommate (4%)

#10: Pet (3%)

#11: Teacher (2%)

#12: Enemy (2%)

FULL RANKING OF MOST POPULAR REACTIONS TO PRANKING

#1: Smile and say, “That was a good one” (45%)

#2: Prank them back (31%)

#3: Get mad but get over it (10%)

#4: No reaction (poker face) (7%)

#5: Quietly fume (5%)

#6: Terminate friendship and never talk to that person again (2%)

April Fools' Day Around the World
Country	Holiday	Occasion	Date
France	Poisson d’Avril	The same as April Fools’ Day, but is known as ‘April Fish’ due to the popular prank of sticking a paper fish onto someone’s back.	April 1
Scotland	Huntigowk Day	In Scotland, to ‘hunt the gowk’ is to find a gullible person or a ‘cuckoo’, and prank them!	April 1
Scotland	Taily Day	In some parts of Scotland, the pranking lasts two days, with day two pranks being focused on the posterior.	April 2
Denmark	Maj-kat	An identical holiday to April Fools’ Day is celebrated a month later, with more practical jokes and gags.	May 1
Spain	Childermas	Although the holiday has grim origins, the holiday is now much celebrated like April Fools’ Day.	December 28

Traditions of the Day

April Fools’ Day traditions are all about practical jokes, playing pranks, and having fun. It can be minor like a verbal joke, or something that you have been plotting for the past few months. Either way, usually the gag ends with the yelling of “April Fools’!” to signify the end of the prank.

In modern times, prank videos have become a category of their own on video hosting platforms. So, naturally, April Fools’ Day pranks have become quite elaborate in recent years. Small businesses, large corporations, and TV networks have also started to participate in this annual tradition, advertising and promoting fictitious claims to fool their audiences. The mild-mannered trickster always has the classic switching-of-sugar-with-salt gag up their sleeve.

April Fools' Day FAQs

When is April Fools' Day?

In 2027, April Fools’ Day is observed on Thursday, April 1, setting the stage for a day of playful pranks and amusing hoaxes as the week winds down.

How did April Fools' Day start?

Historians suggest several theories for April Fools’ Day’s beginnings, including ancient Roman festivals like Hilaria and the medieval Feast of Fools. The most common explanation, however, points to France’s 1582 calendar reform, making it a tradition rooted in historical change.

Is April Fools' Day celebrated worldwide?

Yes, April Fools’ Day is a widely recognized informal holiday, with similar customs of practical jokes and hoaxes found across diverse cultures. Its global reach underscores a universal human enjoyment of lighthearted deception and shared laughter.

What is the most famous April Fools' Day hoax?

The BBC’s 1957 ‘spaghetti harvest’ hoax remains a legendary example, convincing many Britons that spaghetti grew on trees. Other notable pranks include Taco Bell’s announcement that it had bought the Liberty Bell and Google’s various annual gags, demonstrating the creativity of April Fools’ Day jokes.

April Fools' Day Activities

Plan ahead
Start early! Some YouTubers and internet stars have dedicated entire careers to pranking, so your inspiration can begin here. Some ideas get extreme, so be sure to choose ones that are safe but will still garner a great response!
Practice your straight face
Play it cool! You may not be a world-class poker player, but nothing ruins a good prank more than uncontrollably chuckling as you encourage a colleague to sit down at their desk after lunch. If they still don’t suspect that whoopee cushion, they really are an April Fool!
Give them a not-so-sweet surprise
Sour their sweets! This April Fools' staple never gets old. Swapping out some sugar for salt will have them questioning their choice for that second afternoon coffee.

5 FACTS ABOUT APRIL FOOLS' DAY AROUND THE WORLD

“Lie Day” for the Portuguese
In Brazil, this day is referred to as “Lie Day” or Dia da Mentira.
France’s “Fools”
In France and some of the UK, they pin a paper fish to their prankee’s backs.
Scotland’s “Suckers”
The Scottish prank their friends by pinning a tail on them or a “kick me” sign.
Ancient Foolers
Some ancient European’s celebrated by trading status, age or gender roles for the day.
Fooled by the bell
Taco Bell had residents of Philadelphia fooled when it playfully announced its acquisition and rebrand of the Liberty Bell.

Why We Love April Fools' Day

It’s an excuse to act a fool
It’s not every day you can play tricks on those around you and have a national excuse to get away with it! April Fools' Day is a chance for some – hopefully harmless – fun, and a great opportunity to show your creative side while getting a few laughs at the same time.
It gives us something to do in that no-man’s land between winter and spring
With spring sprung just a few weeks before, the weather is warming up and all that vitamin D can jumpstart your creativity in time for prank day. Go find a patio with some friends, and – responsibly – plot your targets!
Groups can get in on the fun
More minds are better than one! Gather up a team at the office, or choose sides at home. Your pranks will be more creative with more people working towards it. Just, remember that this leaves more people to keep the secret and not get busted!