CONVERSATION CLASS

TOPIC: APRIL FOOL'S DAY HISTORY

The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in
France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day
was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1.
Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still
others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the
former celebration, April 1.
These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent
invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became
known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice
was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.
This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition
eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies
by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on an international
flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.
In Scotland, for instance, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The
butts of these jokes are known as April 'Gowk', another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the "Kick Me" sign can be
traced back to the Scottish observance.
In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called 'gobs' or 'gobby' and the victim of a joke is called a
'noodle.' It was considered back luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.
In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the god Attis, is on March 25 and is
also referred to as "Roman Laughing Day."
In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at
their friends.
The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31 in India. People play jokes on one another and smear colors on one another
celebrating the arrival of Spring.
So, no matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1, don't be surprised if April fools fall playfully upon you.

PRANK IDEAS
Prank ideas don't have to be just for April Fools' Day. With a few clever prank ideas in mind, why not pull them anytime?
It's a shame, frankly, that April Fools' Day is confined to one day a year since people, in general, need to be pranked,
punked and downright spoofed way more often.
So, here's a list in no special order about everyday prank ideas you can pull whenever and wherever you want.
1. Garden gnomes have been the subject of many pranks over the years. They have been stolen, beheaded defaced and
downright trashed. Here is a more subtle idea: turn the garden gnome around and put it in a different place in the yard.
This gets the point across and doesn't usually get anyone in too much trouble.

CONVERSATION CLASS
2. Toilet papering a car, that's right, car not house has not been overdone. Toilet papering a house is so clich. But, if you
wrap a car in TP (on a dry, not rainy day), then it's all good fun especially if it's a coach, teacher or famous Wall Street
businessman that deserves it. Of course, toilet papering the dog, sometimes can be equally as fun.
3. Make the offer to crack three eggs over a friend's head for $1,000. Of course you just crack two eggs, watch the goo
run down and say you don't want to waste the third egg (or the $1,000).
4. Putting a mustache on a sleeping person who doesn't normally have one is always fun. But, even better is that if that
person is a deep sleeper than paint another set of eyes on their forehead. When they look in the mirror first thing in the
morning, they will be shocked.
5. Rubber ducks and rubber chickens are staples of comedy. So, the prank ideas involving these props is to put them in
interesting places like the refrigerator, bottled water tank, car glove box, favorite shoe box, desk drawer and one of my
favorites is to put a little rubber ducky floating in the toilet.
6. Fake snakes, cockroaches, spiders and other scary creatures are other staples of practical jokes. The prank ideas
involving these items also involves putting them in unusual places, such as a golf bag, purse, backpack, car seat, locker,
hanging from the ceiling, on top of a door, around a pet door, in a drawer or even in the refrigerator.
7. Ping pong balls make for wonderful pranks. Perhaps, the top place to place the ping pong balls will be the kitchen
cupboards at home or similar high cupboards at work such as in the color copier room or another similar place.
8. Post-it notes make wonderful accessories to decorate a deep sleeper with. Also Post-its can be placed over someone's
door, locker, refrigerator, toilet, room or even car. The prank ideas are endless for these small portable yellow pads!
9. Putting a "Wet Paint" sign on all sorts of objects can be good fun at home or in public. At home you can put the sign
on the couch, refrigerator, toilet or door. In public, you can decorate park benches, hand rails, doors and even windows
with these signs.
10. Superglue coins to the sidewalk is always a tried and true prank idea. Watch people's reactions in a public place as
they try to pick up the coins, kick them and otherwise dislodge them from the sidewalk. Why not even make a video of
this and post it on Youtube?

DISCUSSION
What are some tricks people play on April Fool's

What sort of tricks do you play?

Day?

Have you ever tried fooling your family on April

What is the background of this day?

Fool's Day?

Do you have the same tradition in your country?

Do you always look forward to April Fools Day?

Do you play tricks on April 1st?

WRITING
Hopefully, these will inspire you to come up with your own prank ideas. So, make up some pranks.