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April Fools’ Day

Cultural observance on April 1 celebrating pranks, jokes, and lighthearted hoaxes rooted in centuries-old folk tradition.

Thursday

April 2027

Last updated February 26, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEApril 1

OBSERVED INInternationally

CATEGORYFun

SUBCATEGORYSilly

ORIGIN

Historical Origin

FOUNDING ENTITY

Not documented

FIRST OBSERVED

1561

HOW THE HOLIDAY CAME TO BE

April Fools' Day emerged as a folk custom in Renaissance Europe with no known creator or single founding event. The earliest certain record is a 1561 Flemish poem by Eduard de Dene depicting a nobleman sending a servant on fool's errands on April 1.

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INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready to celebrate April Fools' Day on April 1! This fun-filled day has been around since at least the 1500s and is celebrated all over the world. It's a great opportunity for people of all ages to get creative and have some lighthearted fun with their friends, family and co-workers. Whether you're planning an elaborate prank or just having a good laugh, there's something for everyone on this special day.

DEALS & OFFERS

2026’s deals have wrapped

See who celebrated this year, and browse offers from past years.

Offers wrapped for 2026

April Fools’ Day ran on April 1. Here’s who celebrated with offers this year.

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BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

TIMELINE

April Fools’ Day Timeline

Early April Fools’ Day Mentions

Earliest recorded mentions of a day dedicated to jesting and pranks can be traced back to the 1500s in Europe.

Gregorian Calendar Adopted

France adopts the Gregorian calendar, which moved New Year’s Day from April 1 to January 1, confusing many and contributing to the tradition of pranks.

Spreading Across Europe

By the 18th century, April Fools' Day traditions had spread throughout Europe and had begun to take on its modern form.

Celebration in Britain and Scotland

In this period, April Fools’ Day was widely celebrated in Britain, and Scotland developed a two-day variation known as "Huntigowk Day".

BBC's Famous Spaghetti Tree Hoax

BBC broadcasts a fake film about Swiss farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees, fooling many viewers and marking one of the greatest television hoaxes.

Internet Takes Over Pranks

With the advent of internet, online pranks started becoming popular, allowing people to engage in April Fools' Day jesting on a global scale.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate April Fools’ Day

Play a prank

April Fools' Day is the perfect day to pull a harmless prank on your friends and family. Put a rubber band around the sink faucet so it sprays water everywhere when someone tries to turn it on, or hide a bag of flour in the refrigerator.

SEND

Send a funny card

Send your loved ones a funny April Fools' Day card with a silly message inside. You can find these cards at most stores or make one of your own!

CREATE

Create an April Fools' Day scavenger hunt

Hide clues around the house for your family and friends to find. Have them search for the answers and lead them to the final clue which can be something funny or unusual.

TELL

Tell tall tales

Make up outrageous stories and try to convince others that they are true. For example, tell your friends you saw Bigfoot walking down Main Street!

PLAN

Plan an April Fools' Day party

Invite your friends over for an evening of pranks, jokes and fun! Play games like Truth or Dare, plan some silly activities, or just sit back and laugh.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love April Fools’ Day

It brings people together

April Fools’ Day is a great way for friends and family to come together and share some unabashed laughs. It's a tradition that has gone on for centuries, so why not keep up the spirit by getting together and having some harmless fun!

It's a day for fun

April Fools’ Day is the perfect excuse to play pranks on your loved ones and have some harmless fun. Whether you're making an outrageous claim or orchestrating an elaborate prank, April Fools' Day allows you to express your creativity in a funny and lighthearted way!

It’s all in good humor

April Fools’ Day is meant to be taken in good humor. Pranks are done with the intention of bringing joy, not pain, so it’s important that all parties involved understand that these jokes are simply part of the holiday spirit.