April's Fools day, and the origins thereof.

April 1, 2003 11:15 AM

Anybody know the origin of April Fool's day? We already have a post about the greatest hoaxes of all time, but doesn't anybody know WHY we hoax and trick? I won't tell you why here....but I find it funny, what with the current jingoism and all, that it comes from France...after you digest that first link, read more at urbanlegends.com.
posted by taumeson (8 comments total)

Look it up!
posted by hairyeyeball at 11:24 AM on April 1, 2003

not origins, but interesting. not worthy of FPP, so i thought i'd dump it here:

Nat'l Geo : April Fool's Special: History's Hoaxes.
posted by folktrash at 11:50 AM on April 1, 2003

This year's NatlGeo AprilFool's joke: "We didn't really mean to fire you, Arnett, get back to work..."
posted by wendell at 12:44 PM on April 1, 2003

... And that's the story of April Fool's Day.
posted by Space Coyote at 2:29 PM on April 1, 2003

"The news media even gets involved. For instance, a British short film once shown on April Fool's Day was a fairly detailed documentary about "spaghetti farmers" and how they harvest their crop from the spaghetti trees. "

aha! so I wasn't insane! I did see famers grow spagetti on trees! I begged mum for fresh picked tree-spagetti for years.
posted by dabitch at 2:49 PM on April 1, 2003

Also the Lirpa Loof on Blue Peter. Rare Himalayan beastie with purple poo, or something.

Don't have nightmares.
posted by asok at 3:31 PM on April 1, 2003

Blood! For! Baal!
Blood! For! Baal!

(later)

Now! Who's! Laughing?!
Now! Who's! Laughing?!
Now! Who's! Laughing?!

(Ask a Simpsons fan...)
posted by AccordionGuy at 4:43 PM on April 1, 2003

From now on, the day will be known as "Freedom Day", although nothing will change. After all, the French did come up with it...
posted by SpecialK at 10:24 PM on April 1, 2003