1 April Fool’s Day is an annual custom consisting of pranks and hoaxes. Its origins are subject to debate.
Some believe its etymology derives from ‘April Foals’, a reference to the disproportionate number of horses born on or around April 1.
Others think the term originated in the 13th century, from a dish known as an April Fool, consisting of fruit mixed with whipped cream. Towards the end of medieval banquets, these ‘April Fools’ were thrown in the faces of those judged the most stupid people around the table.
2 Many countries celebrate different versions of the April Fool’s tradition.
In St Petersburg, Russia, an April Fool is chosen by a secret committee appointed by the president. He or she is then tossed from the Palace Bridge into the River Neva. If they survive, they are pulled out, given a paper crown and a penny whistle, and then tossed in again.