April Fools' Day traditions in Ukraine and around the world: how do we celebrate?

April Fools' Day is an international holiday celebrated in many countries around the world. Find out how different nations joke on April 1, what traditions exist in Europe, the United States, and Ukraine, and how to celebrate this holiday in a fun and offensive way.

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April Fools' Day is an international holiday celebrated in many countries around the world. Each nation has its own unique traditions of April Fools' jokes and pranks. Let's find out how this funny day is celebrated in different parts of the world.

History of April Fools' Day - when did this holiday appear?

There is no official version of the holiday's origin, but there are several popular theories. It is believed that its roots go back to ancient Rome, where the “Festival of Fools” was celebrated at the end of March. Later, due to a change in the calendar, this day fell on April 1.

In Ireland, the humorous holiday is associated with Celtic traditions, when all pranks were dedicated to the God of Laughter. And in medieval Europe, its appearance is associated with the change in the date of the New Year's celebration: it used to be celebrated at the end of March, and after the transition to the Gregorian calendar, those who continued to celebrate were called “April Fools.”

April Fools' Day traditions in Ukraine

In Ukraine, the tradition of April Fools' Day jokes gained popularity in the nineteenth century. Usually, on this day, Ukrainians are happy to play pranks on relatives, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. One of the most famous centers of celebration is Odesa, where the Humorina humor festival is held annually. During the festival, parades, concerts, and funny performances take place, and the city's residents compete in prankster skills.

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How April 1 is celebrated around the world?

Spain

In Spain, April Fool's Day is not celebrated on April 1, but on December 28 - it is the holiday El Día de los Inocentes (“The Day of the Innocents”). On this day, massive pranks are held, and the main event is a theatrical “battle” when the interim government introduces absurd laws. The money raised from the “fines” is donated to charity.

USA

In America, this holiday has become a big deal. Famous companies and TV channels regularly organize massive pranks. For example, one of the jokes in the newspapers included the “news” that a company had decided to stop selling cigarettes until they were completely safe, and many people took it seriously.

Germany

In Germany, there is a tradition of “sending someone to April” (in den April schicken) - giving a person a ridiculous task, such as finding “milk of a pigeon”. After a successful prank, it is customary to say “April, April!” to make it clear that it was a joke.

Great Britain and Scotland

In England, pranks last only until noon - after 12:00, jokes are considered unsuccessful and can bring bad luck. Those who managed to deceive are called April Fools.

In Scotland, the celebration lasts for two days. On April 2, they celebrate “Tail Day” when all the jokes are related to the back or buttocks, such as sticking papers on the back or putting buttons on a chair.

France and Italy

In France, it is customary to stick a paper fish on the back of an unsuspecting person. The person who has been pranked is called the “poisson d'Avril” - the April fish. Similar traditions exist in Italy, where people also stick fish on the backs of friends and acquaintances.

How to celebrate April Fools' Day?

To make April Fools' Day fun for everyone, you should follow a few rules:

● Jokes should be friendly and not offend others.

● If a person does not like pranks, respect their wishes.

● After the prank, explain that it was a joke, especially if the person could have taken it seriously.

April Fool's Day is a great opportunity to cheer yourself and others up, so don't miss the opportunity to have fun!

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