Today the 1st day of April is April Fools day. The origin of this tradition has been lost to history, however, it is a widespread tradition that is celebrated around the world.
In the Nordic countries, the newspapers will publish at least one false story.
In the UK, you have until noon to play a prank and yell April’s Fools, but if you prank someone after noon you are the fool.
In Italy, France, Belguim and French speaking regions, the translation comes closer to April Fish and the tradition is to try and pin a paper fish on someone’s back without them knowing.
But the tradition that amused me the most was the Irish and Scottish traditions which are close but not exactly the same. In both traditions someone is given a very important letter and told to take it someone. When the recipient gets the letter it reads "send the fool further" in Ireland and "Dinna laugh, dinna smile. Hunt the gowk another mile." in Scotland, effectively telling the recipient to continue the prank and send the important letter and the April Fool onto the next person.
Please comment below and let me know if you have been subjected to an April Fools Day prank before.
I have been made look the fool a few times, but can not remember being made an April Fool!