Fool 'Em!

Are you a prankster?  Do you like a good joke?  Then your day is right around the corner--April 1st, a.k.a. April Fools' Day!

Believe it or not, the day on which we fool others has been around for centuries.  Some say it began in the 16th century when the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar, making January 1 the start of the year rather than April 1, which closely followed the spring equinox.  Those who still believed that April 1 was the start of the year were seen as "fools" and pranks were played on them.

Since then, people have been rather creative in their ways of fooling others.  For instance, there was the Swiss spaghetti harvest as reported by the BBC, the multicolor gondolas in Venice, and the Liberty Bell bought by Taco Bell and renamed the Taco Liberty Bell.  For more information on big, publicized April Fools' Day jokes and hoaxes, check out the following websites:

• 8 Zany April Fools' Day Hoaxes
• 15 Best April Fools' Day Hoaxes
• The Most Epic April Fools' Day Pranks of All Time
• Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes of All Time

And should you be interested in pranking others on April Fools' Day, take a look at the following websites for some inspiration:

• 15 Easy April Fools' Day Pranks to Try at Home and Work
• 22 Free or Cheap April Fools' Day Pranks
• April Fools' Day Pranks and Practical Jokes
• Family-Friendly April Fools' Day Pranks

Whatever you do, have a happy (and safe) April Fools' Day!

Jokingly yours from the perch.