How is April Fools’ Day celebrated in different countries?
From the 16th to 18th centuries, the prank that was most closely associated with April 1 was the fool's errand — also known as a wild goose chase or a 'sleeveless errand'. This emphasis still endures, at least linguistically, in certain areas.
Likewise, in Scotland and parts of northern England, April 1 was traditionally known as Huntigowk Day, on account of the old custom of "hunting the gowk" on the first. A gowk was a cuckoo, but on April 1 it referred to the victim who was sent on a "gowk hunt". He was asked to deliver a note that, unbeknownst to him, read, "Never laugh, never smile, Hunt the gowk another mile" (or some variation of that). Recipients of this note would duly redirect its bearer elsewhere until the victim had been run all over town.
Icelanders had a custom of "running April" very similar to the gowk hunt, but with the twist that the prank was only considered to have succeeded if the victim could be tricked into crossing three thresholds before realizing what was up.
Finally, one of the oldest German expressions for perpetrating an April fool joke, dating back to the early 1600s, is translated as ''to send someone in April '. It appears to derive from the custom of sending people on foolish errands on April 1.
In French and Italian an 'April Fools' is known as an 'April Fish'. Theories about the origin of this phrase are almost as many (and as fanciful) as theories about the origin of April Fools’ Day itself. For instance, one theory is that the phrase derives from the abundance of fish found in streams and rivers during early April, and the ease with which these fish can be caught with a hook and lure.
Whatever the origin of the phrase might be, in France, French-speaking Belgium, and Italy, the fish is the primary symbol of April Fools’ Day. In these areas, it used to be customary to send humorous postcards on April 1 with pictures of fish.
By contrast, in all other areas, the fool or court jester is the primary symbol of the day. In some regions of England, an April Fool used to be called an "April Noddy" — noddy being an archaic term for a fool or simpleton.
German-speaking regions also had some variant terms for the April Fools’, include April ox, April calf, April ass, April goose, and April monkey. However, all those terms are somewhat archaic, and April fool is now the most popular symbol of April Fools’ Day in Germany.
In countries where the fish is the symbol of April 1, it's long been traditional for children to celebrate the day by surreptitiously pinning paper fish on the backs of classmates or people in the street. In France and Belgium, many candy shops also sell chocolate fish on April 1.
April Fools Free Zones
There are pockets of resistance to April Fools’ Day, particularly in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia. For instance, in 2001 Saudi Arabia's chief cleric issued a fatwa decreeing that April Fools’ Day was a form of organized lying practiced by unbelievers, and that Muslims therefore should not participate in the tradition. He acknowledged that many younger Muslims were beginning to adopt the custom, but said, "It is prohibited because lying is prohibited at all times and under all conditions."
April Fools’ Day has also made fewer inroads into Spanish-speaking countries where the Day of the Holy Innocents is celebrated on Dec 28. This is a day for pranks and media hoaxes, very similar to April Fools’ Day. But even in these countries, it is becoming more common for the media and advertisers to create hoaxes for April 1.
Likewise, in Scotland and parts of northern England, April 1 was traditionally known as Huntigowk Day, on account of the old custom of "hunting the gowk" on the first. A gowk was a cuckoo, but on April 1 it referred to the victim who was sent on a "gowk hunt". He was asked to deliver a note that, unbeknownst to him, read, "Never laugh, never smile, Hunt the gowk another mile" (or some variation of that). Recipients of this note would duly redirect its bearer elsewhere until the victim had been run all over town.
Icelanders had a custom of "running April" very similar to the gowk hunt, but with the twist that the prank was only considered to have succeeded if the victim could be tricked into crossing three thresholds before realizing what was up.
Finally, one of the oldest German expressions for perpetrating an April fool joke, dating back to the early 1600s, is translated as ''to send someone in April '. It appears to derive from the custom of sending people on foolish errands on April 1.
In French and Italian an 'April Fools' is known as an 'April Fish'. Theories about the origin of this phrase are almost as many (and as fanciful) as theories about the origin of April Fools’ Day itself. For instance, one theory is that the phrase derives from the abundance of fish found in streams and rivers during early April, and the ease with which these fish can be caught with a hook and lure.
Whatever the origin of the phrase might be, in France, French-speaking Belgium, and Italy, the fish is the primary symbol of April Fools’ Day. In these areas, it used to be customary to send humorous postcards on April 1 with pictures of fish.
By contrast, in all other areas, the fool or court jester is the primary symbol of the day. In some regions of England, an April Fool used to be called an "April Noddy" — noddy being an archaic term for a fool or simpleton.
German-speaking regions also had some variant terms for the April Fools’, include April ox, April calf, April ass, April goose, and April monkey. However, all those terms are somewhat archaic, and April fool is now the most popular symbol of April Fools’ Day in Germany.
In countries where the fish is the symbol of April 1, it's long been traditional for children to celebrate the day by surreptitiously pinning paper fish on the backs of classmates or people in the street. In France and Belgium, many candy shops also sell chocolate fish on April 1.
April Fools Free Zones
There are pockets of resistance to April Fools’ Day, particularly in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia. For instance, in 2001 Saudi Arabia's chief cleric issued a fatwa decreeing that April Fools’ Day was a form of organized lying practiced by unbelievers, and that Muslims therefore should not participate in the tradition. He acknowledged that many younger Muslims were beginning to adopt the custom, but said, "It is prohibited because lying is prohibited at all times and under all conditions."
April Fools’ Day has also made fewer inroads into Spanish-speaking countries where the Day of the Holy Innocents is celebrated on Dec 28. This is a day for pranks and media hoaxes, very similar to April Fools’ Day. But even in these countries, it is becoming more common for the media and advertisers to create hoaxes for April 1.