Harmless Pranks QUESTION
Hi Amanda,
April fools’ day is coming up. It always makes me nervous. I always get frightened by the most horrible pranks people pull on me because they scare me terribly. There might be a better way to joke around. I request your readers to refrain from committing harmful pranks. Moreover, could you also tell me what April Fool’s Day is all about?
Thanks.
Love,
Josie!
ANSWER
Hi Josie,
If you see penguins flying over, check your calendar. It might be April 1! April Fool’s Day (sometimes referred to as All Fool’s Day) is celebrated on the first day of April every year. As once again, it’s that time of year, so I’d advise you to check your toilet bowl for cling wrap before sitting down.
April Fool’s Day offers only one certainty – pranks galore. Pranks and jokes take center stage on this special day of the year; even if you’re not a prankster yourself, you can still participate.
Get into Harmless Pranks:
We love a funny joke and belly laughs just as much as anyone else. As Josie pointed out, yes, there are better ways to do it. Undoubtedly, I want my readers to refrain from harmful pranks. Many people are scared by terrible jokes, even when you don’t intend to hurt them.
We don’t want to spoil the fun, but there are numerous examples where April Fools’ pranks turn wrong, often causing lasting damage. These cases serve as timely reminders of how important it is to rethink our actions and care for those around us. Although April Fool’s Day is a fun day to have some lighthearted fun if it gets out of control, it can get nasty.
Recently on April Fools’ Day, a colleague told her co-worker Susan that one of her best friends had been injured and had to be hospitalized. Susan rushed to check on her friend in a panic but found everything was alright. After being pranked by colleagues who clapped hands around her ears, she lost the ability to hear. Even though the colleagues didn’t mean to hurt her, the joke had devastating effects.
While many serious consequences may result from this ‘prank,’ people need to be extremely careful about their ‘hoaxes’ and ‘pranks,’ not just on April Fools’ Day but throughout the year.
If you check the Internet, you will find pranks about bomb blasts, rumors about suspicious tweets and posts, jokes about near-crashes caused by silly stunts, insane prices charged by companies, etc. These jokes can potentially put people in jeopardy.
It is wise to step back and consider the possible consequences. Due to the Internet and its adjacent social media, jokes and rumors can spread a thousand times. There is always an invisible line that one must never cross when playing pranks on friends.
At all times, be sure your jokes are light-hearted, funny, and more importantly, safe.
Apr 1st Origins:
Our childhood memories are filled with humming ‘April fool banaya to unko gussa aaya.’
However, did you know that the day originated from a joke? Let’s look at the classic tale of its origin.
According to Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, April 1 was the first fool’s day recorded. According to reports, New Year’s Day usually falls in April. By 1582, Pope Gregory XIII had introduced the Gregorian Calendar, which made January 1 a New Year’s Day. Most people did not accept this and still celebrated New Year’s Day in April. Others mocked those who refused to accept January 1 as New Year’s Day by sending them on “fool’s errands,” thus becoming the basis for April Fools’ Day.
Some say April Fools’ Day is connected to an ancient Roman festival called Hilaria, where people dressed up in disguises and celebrated spring.
So, whenever you plan an April Fool’s prank, make sure it is equally harmless and mindful.
We wish you a happy April Fools’ Day! Be silly and have fun, and laugh to your heart’s content.
Love,
Amanda!
