April Fools’ Day –Easter Monday 1st April 2024

This weekend is April Fools' Day. It is also sometimes called All Fools' Day and is celebrated every year on the 1^st April by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes.

April Fools' Day is observed throughout the Western world. Practices include sending someone on a "fools' errand," looking for things that don't exist; playing pranks; and trying to get people to believe ridiculous things.

One great prank in New Zealand had locals rushing to a South Island brewery when they announced that there was free beer on tap.

When I grew up the students at school use to try to do jokes on the teachers and their friends. My mother use to fool my brother and I when we were young, and it was always something silly and funny. The jokes and their victims are called April fools. People

playing April Fool jokes expose their prank by shouting April Fool.

Some newspapers, magazines, and other published media report fake stories, which are usually explained the next day or below the news section in small letters. Although popular since the 19th century, the day is not a public holiday in any country.

There has been one appearing on social media during the beginning of the Covid Pandemic,

“Clocks Go Forward Next Weekend, Not Sure How Far Forward,

But 4 Months Would Be Great”

This may be a fun day to relieve some stress and put a smile on friends faces. I wonder what jokes will get played on 1 April – Monday, I’m sure there will be some clever people ready to fool their friends and families.

Happy Aprils’ Fools Day Norfolk Island

Betty Matthews

29 March 2024