April Fool's Day, also known as All Fools' Day, is observed on April 1st each year and is a day when people play practical jokes on one another.

It is a day when people enjoy telling jokes, pulling pranks, and causing mischief.

The origins of this tradition are unknown, but many historians believe it stems from ancient spring festivals, such as the Roman festival of Hilaria, which was held near the end of March.

According to one theory, April Fool's Day originated in the Middle Ages, when the new year was celebrated on March 25th, with the week-long festivities ending on April 1st.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII instituted a new calendar known as the Gregorian calendar, which moved New Year's Day to January 1st.

However, many people were unaware of this change, and they continued to celebrate the new year on April 1st.

Those who did so were frequently the target of pranks and jokes, and were dubbed "April fools."

Another theory about the origins of April Fool's Day suggests that it began in France in the 16th century during the reign of Charles IX.

According to this theory, the tradition began when the king decreed that the new year would be celebrated on January 1st, rather than the traditional date of March 31st.

Many people, however, refused to accept the change and continued to celebrate the new year on the previous date.

Others mocked and ridiculed those who did so, and they were frequently sent on fool's errands or duped into believing ridiculous things.

Regardless of its origins, April Fool's Day has become a worldwide tradition. On April 1st, many newspapers, television stations, and websites publish fake news stories or run hoaxes.

Practical jokes on friends and family members are common such as putting salt in the sugar bowl or setting an alarm clock at an early hour.

However, in recent years, the celebration of April Fool's Day has been fraught with controversy.

Some argue that the tradition encourages cruelty and bullying and can be harmful to those who are the targets of pranks.

Others argue that the tradition is harmless amusement and that jokes should not be taken too seriously.

In 2018, a popular YouTube personality named Logan Paul claimed to have discovered a dead body in Japan's "suicide forest," which was a controversial April Fool's Day prank.

The video, which was intended as a prank, was widely condemned for its insensitivity and was eventually removed.

Paul apologised but the incident highlighted the dangers of April Fool's Day pranks.

Despite these controversies, April Fool's Day is still a popular activity for many people around the world.

It is a day for people to let loose and have fun, and it allows people to connect with others through humour and playfulness.

As long as people approach the tradition with a sense of humour and consideration for others, it will remain a treasured part of our cultural heritage for many years to come.

Some other memorable fake stories

1965 - the BBC TV showed an interview with a professor who claimed that people could smell the things shown on TV. The technology was called 'smell-o-vision'. Coffee beans and onions were shown to people who were asked to report if they smelled the items. Some people fell for it and even said the onions made their eyes water.

1998 - Burger King introduced a left handed Whopper with all the condiments swirled on the burger anti-clockwise. It was so popular that people were trying to order them in store.

2017 - Coffee-Mate introduced a coffee flavour so your favourite coffee could taste more like coffee!

2019 - a Florida Aquarium unveiled an attraction called Moon Bay. The 2,000 gallon tank contained translucent moon jellies, a type of jellyfish which visitors could touch. Apparently they were instructed in the safe and correct place to touch them. Moon jellies are technically a form of gelatinous zooplankton and not fish at all.

Google is well known for the annual April Fools' jokes, which they have done in 2000, 2002, and every year since 2004.

Watch out!