Have you ever believed that chocolate helps with weight loss or that bananas can polish your car? If so, chances are you've fallen victim to a classic April Fools' Day prank – and hey, you're not alone!

But where did this global day of harmless deception come from? Why do we prank each other on 1 April – and even more curiously, how do you spell April Fools' correctly? Let’s dive in!

Where Did April Fools’ Day Come From?

Like any good prank, its origins are a bit fuzzy. One popular theory traces it back to 16^th-century France, when the start of the new year was moved from 1 April to 1 January.

People who stubbornly continued celebrating the old new year in April were mocked – sometimes with paper fish stuck to their backs (poisson d’avril) or other creative jests.

The tradition spread across Europe and later the world, evolving into a day where humour, imagination, and trickery are not only allowed but encouraged.

Why Do We Love April Fools’ Day So Much?

Because it's the only day of the year when lying is encouraged – as long as it's all in good fun!

Even serious institutions like newspapers, tech companies, and government agencies love to join in with made-up announcements, fake products, and straight-faced absurdities.

In a world full of serious headlines, a bit of light-hearted mischief is more than welcome. Admit it – it feels good to laugh at ourselves from time to time.

Some of the Most Legendary April Fools’ Pranks Ever

• BBC’s “Spaghetti Trees” (1957) – A broadcast showed Swiss farmers “harvesting” spaghetti from trees. Viewers called in asking how they could grow their own.
• Google Nose (2013) – Google announced a new feature that would let you smell things through your screen. Because… why not?
• Germany’s 25-Hour Workweek (2008) – A paper reported the government was switching to a 25-hour workweek. Many people were thrilled… until they weren’t.

Language Lovers, Listen Up: How to Spell It Right

Even April Fools’ Day comes with grammatical pitfalls!

Correct: April Fools’ Day
With apostrophe after Fools, because it’s their day.

• Incorrect: April Fool’s Day (unless you’re celebrating just one fool!)
• Also incorrect: April Fools Day (where’s the apostrophe, people?)

And the date?

• Correct: 1 April (or 1 April in American English)
• Incorrect: 1. April (as ordinal numbers are written in several other languages)

And You? Ever Fallen for an April Fools’ Joke?

Did you once believe cats were being trained to talk? Or that the UK was switching to driving on the right side of the road?

We’d love to hear your favourite pranks – whether you fooled someone else or were hilariously fooled yourself!

Drop your stories in the comments. Let’s celebrate the one day of the year when being a little gullible is not just okay… it’s tradition.

P.S. If you’re reading this on 1 April… well, maybe this post is a prank.
Or maybe not.
Or… maybe.