Talk:April Fools' Day

Spaghetti trees

"Spaghetti trees: The BBC television programme Panorama ran a famous hoax in 1957, showing Italians harvesting spaghetti from trees." The hoax obviously shows Swiss people harvesting spaghetti crops. Ticino is a swiss canton, this is also mentioned in the listed link to the BBC. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.213.43.253 (talk) 20:24, 6 April 2010 (UTC)

Fifty years ago, most British people did not know much about Italian food like spaghetti. Some people say that it was many years before they found out that spaghetti does not really grow on trees. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Patdop (talk • contribs) 11:38, 15 March 2011 (UTC)

Canada

In Canada I'd always heard it was only until noon. I'm here now, born here, grew up here. At school we were always told it stopped at noon. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.180.218.83 (talk) 02:50, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

That used to be in the article (that Canada and some other countries stop at noon) but that's now been removed? I'm an American living in Canada, and I was so confused when people thought my prank was real because it was after noon. I said, "Huh? After noon?" It differs by country and it should be in the article. --66.119.170.242 (talk) 16:16, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

It's well established that the people who want April Fool's day to end at noon are cranky and hate April Fool's day. It's not called "April Fool's Morn'". Many pranksters don't even get up before noon. I think it should be removed. I especially disagree with the claim that if you prank someone after noon then you become the 'fool'. If an elaborated prank is pulled, regardless of what time on April 1st, the prankee is the fool. I can't see how this is inverted. ~ —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.102.81.73 (talk) 22:27, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Where I live in Canada it is also well established that the jokes end at noon. If you can't get up before that you miss out. NevarMaor (talk) 15:46, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

The jokes don't end at noon in Canada. I live in Canada and I know they end at midnight. But keep in mind, it only changed recently. My mother says she used to end the jokes at noon, but now that so-called tradition is obsolete. No one I know continues it. Whoever still says they end at noon here has probably never been to Canada, or doesn't keep with the times. 24.69.84.86 (talk) 14:27, 10 October 2011 (UTC)

Afraid "no one I know does this" isn't enough of a source for Wikipedia, and two other editors in this talk thread mention living in Canada where the jokes end at noon. If it's a generational thing and nobody uses the noon thing any more, it shouldn't be hard to find an example from the Canadian press that mentions it - feel free to provide a source if you can find one. --McGeddon (talk) 14:33, 10 October 2011 (UTC)

THE JOKES DON'T END AT NOON IN CANADA! I live in Canada and have always pulled pranks all day. So does everyone I know. Whoever says the jokes end at noon has probably never been to Canada. Please, PLEASE, PLEASE stop saying they end at noon because it's not true. It's just a stereotype about Canada. Sonicthemeatball (talk) 02:04, 22 October 2011 (UTC)

as you've been told before, give a source, put it in, done. Choyoołʼįįhí:Seb az86556 ^{> haneʼ} 02:12, 22 October 2011 (UTC)

I've restored the rest of this thread (where two editors who live in Canada say that you are wrong), which you chose to delete when you posted your comment. --McGeddon (talk) 12:42, 22 October 2011 (UTC)

April Fool's 2011

When does this article get protected this year? 71.191.106.65 (talk) 23:23, 21 February 2011 (UTC)

TenPoundHammmer's edits removed entirely relevant information, namely the various examples of April Fool's pranks and well known instances of the April Fools tradition. Almost feels like an April Fools joke itself. The article should be reverted, or the information made available in another article. "(→Real news on April Fools' Day: redundant to april 1 article)" and "(→Well-known pranks: also, screw it)" were also unprofessional notes on the reasoning behind the edits. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rolandar (talk • contribs) 05:56, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Fool's or Fools'

While the page is titled "April Fools' Day", there are several instances on the page where it is referred to as "April Fool's Day". Which is correct? --SnorlaxMonster 12:44, 14 March 2011 (UTC)

I would argue that the title of the article should be changed. According to Google's NGRAM viewer, April Fool's Day has always been a more common usage than April Fools' Day, throughout the 100+ years that the expression has been widely used.Jbening (talk) 12:16, 29 March 2011 (UTC)

Islamic view

Where is the Islamic view of April Fools' Day? αυρδεκ ζαφυρ 09:57, 28 March 2011 (UTC)

April 1st or May 2?

"...is set 'Syn March bigan thritty dayes and two.[3] Chaucer probably meant 32 days after March, i.e. May 2'..."

I would have to disagree with this statement. "32 days since March began" would in fact be April 1. Danwaggoner (talk) 15:36, 31 March 2011 (UTC)

Chaucer scholars disagree. He was sponsored by the king to promote the May 2 engagement date. There are several references to this date in various stories. "almost every modern edition of Chaucer has gone against the authority of all extant manuscripts and rewritten the phrase "Syn March bigan" as "Syn March was 'gon'".[1] Perhaps the copyist who altered this passage can be considered the first April Fool's prankster -- and possibly cost Chaucer some of his sponsorship. Kauffner (talk) 12:53, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Edit request from 86.27.72.233, 1 April 2011

Youtube 2011 April Fools: It's called "Youtube 1911", and all it does is make the thumbnails for all videos sepiatone and adds vaudeville music replacing the original audio.

86.27.72.233 (talk) 01:20, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. — Bility (talk) 03:23, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

WTF ?!?

Revert this --79.118.35.225 (talk) 06:14, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

April 31st

Hahaha, hahaha, LMAO!

Changing April fools day to April 1st to April 31st, on 1 April 2011, you merry pranksters! How kooky and clever...

April Fools!!!

It may be the weakest attempt at humor ever recorded on the internet. (unencyclopedia excluded of course)

66.108.243.166 (talk) 06:44, 1 April 2011 (UTC)Moi

Edit request from 24.20.213.133, 1 April 2011

In France, it is said that until 1564, the year began on the 1st of April (possibly due to the beginning of spring). That year, king Charles IX of France decided to modify the calendar, so that thereafter the year would begin on the 1st of January. When January 1st 1565 came, everyone celebrated by wishing each other a Happy New Year with presents, kisses and the usual things that accompanied the new year's day. Only, when the 1st of April arrived that same year, some had the idea of still celebrating the day by giving presents, but of a more humorous or mischievous nature, possibly to continue the tradition of celebrating that day. Thus, was born April Fools, or "Poisson d'avril", as it is known in France. Hkundalini (talk) 07:22, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Stickee (talk) 08:15, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

This theory is already covered in the article, although there are some obvious problems with it. The phrase poisson d’avril is first recorded in 1508, before the calendar change. Nobody ever began the year on April 1, but in Medieval times many towns did celebrate on March 25. If they were still celebrating on April 1, that would imply a full week of celebrating. Some towns might have done this, but there is no reason to think it was common. Kauffner (talk) 13:59, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Iran Republic Day

"In 1979, Iran declared April 1 its national Republic Day. Thirty-one years on, this continues to be mistaken for a joke.^[77]"
I have three suggestions for this part. The first is that Thirty-one be changed to Thirty-two, because Thirty-two years after 1979 is 2011. I don't know if it is bad addition or needs to be updated from last year. I guess it could instead read, "More than thirty" so it would not have to be changed as often. The second suggestion is that the "years on" be changed to "years later". This is so that it is more grammatically correct, and sounds better. The last suggestion is that the cite note be moved to right after the first sentence, like this, "...national Republic Day.^[77] Thirty-...". I skimmed the CIA site that was cited and I don't think that the joke part was mentioned. ~cyalknight@gmail.com —Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.134.215.125 (talk) 11:33, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Edit request - intro

Unsubstantiated claim: Traditionally, in some countries such as New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, Australia, and South Africa, the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool".[1] The site (hardly a reputable source) makes no mention of the claim [2]. 87.209.183.151 (talk) 13:07, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Y Done Kauffner (talk) 13:27, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

I can say from my story that this is true. Not sure how it needs to be supported by research, but all Canadians I talk to say April Fools ends at noon, whereas in the U.S., I had never heard that. Put the above back in and just say it needs a citation. Otherwise, there's no evidence that it's false, and it's useful for sorting out confusion with Canadians. --66.119.170.242 (talk) 16:17, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

The argument that April Fool's day ends at noon is anti-prank propaganda spread by the Canadian school system. Until Parliament passes a bill changing the name of April Fool's Day to April Fool's Morning or April Fools (Half) Day, it is a full day event. Some pranks take a long time, and sometimes pranksters have to work in the morning and can't pull off pranks until the evening. I think that it should be into account the interests at play in this 'before noon' claim. Notice how it is always "teachers" who inform students of this rule. I will try to find some more information to create a "Disputed 'Before Noon' Canadian April Fool's Day" section. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.102.81.73 (talk) 18:06, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

I would like to add the following to the April Fools' Day page: Hotheaded Naked Ice Borers

In the April 1995 issue of Discover magazine, an article announced that wildlife biologist Dr. Aprile Pazzo was doing research in Antarctica when she discovered a fascinating new species she dubbed “hotheaded naked ice borers.” This odd little creature had a bony plate on top of its head that would become extremely hot and allow these little buggers to plow through the ice making tunnels at very high rates of speed.

Problem is, not only does the creature not exist, but Dr. Aprile Pazzo herself was a concoction from the creative minds at Discover. Her name is actually Italian for April Fools. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dianajlane (talk • contribs) 15:50, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Please replace the section on fooling finishing at mid day it is verifiable. I have a reliable source and would like it put back, but do not want to be accused of starting an edit war. "The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren", Iona and Peter Opie, OUP, 1959. pp246/247 in the 1967 paperback edition. There are various rhymes given as a response to those who try fooling after mid day, eg. "April Fool's Day's past and gone, You're the fool for making one."

The information on Huntigowk in Scotland can also use this same book and page as a citation. MidlandLinda (talk) 22:46, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Edit request - to add to By websites

On April 1, 2011, The entire Conquer Club website and game interface was translated into the Swedish Chef language (Bork, bork, bork!) 65.92.21.32 (talk) 17:56, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Not done for now: can you provide evidence that that particular prank is especially notable? I don't think we can include every single website that has done a prank this year. Monty₈₄₅ 18:07, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Afernoon

How come this article doesn't mention the thing that performing tricks is only to be done on the morning and if you do it in the afternoon you're then the fool? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.121.231.109 (talk) 18:14, 1 April 2011 (UTC)

Edit request from Darren-darrenevans, 2 April 2011

In April of 2009, the Guardian newspaper announced it would immediately begin disseminating all information via Twitter DARREN EVANS 06:10, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

Not done: Not every April Fools joke warrants a mention in the article. —C.Fred (talk) 06:18, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

Example section

What defines "well known"? We have eleventy bazillion examples here, and it's been tagged as examplefarm for 11 months. This desperately needs paring down if not outright removal. Ten Pound Hammer, his otters and a clue-bat • ^{(Otters want attention)} 20:23, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

• Shitcan it. It doesn't matter how long its been there, it needs to go. Example farms just grow more and more esoteric examples; and they don't necessarily add much to the understanding of the subject. If we could pare it down to 3-4, we would do so. Unfortunately, 4 becomes 5, because if YOUR favorite example is there, then mine can be too, then 5 becomes 6, and 6 becomes 150 before you know it. Just flush it all; as a secondary choice or a compromise we could farm it out to "list of April Fools Day pranks", but that only pushes the problem somewhere else and doesn't solve it. Getting rid of it entirely sournds like a clear case of addition by subtraction; the article becomes of higher quality when we reduce the quantity of text of marginal relevence. --Jayron32 20:42, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

Pairing it down is fine, but complete removal of everything was just silly. (Not that Tenpoundhammer doesn't have a good argument). Perhaps the fact that there are so many examples IS the joke.JOJ ^Hutton 21:17, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

• If we really need the examples somewhere, I agree with the Jayron32's secondary suggestion that a "List of" article would be better. In this article it just overwhelms the actual content. Kcowolf (talk) 22:12, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

There are way too many of them, but some examples are needed. Picking out the most highly publicized or funniest incidents is the obvious solution, but of course this is arbitrary. Yes, it will grow. And it will need to be paired again. But that is the nature of Wiki. The section "Real news on April Fools' Day" has nothing to do with the holiday and needs to go. Kauffner (talk) 22:28, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

• Jayron32 speaks truth. Listen to him. Even if the examples are forked, the example list will eventually grow to be longer than Time Cube, then sent to AFD. Ten Pound Hammer, his otters and a clue-bat • ^{(Otters want attention)} 23:20, 2 April 2011 (UTC)

Seriously, that was the perfect example of an example farm. Most of those examples added nothing to the article. However, I would support keeping a couple of the better-documented examples if they could somehow be worked into the text of the article. If, on the other hand, they cannot, then ditch all the examples.

Moving the sourced examples to another article called List of April Fool's Day jokes might be a good idea, especially if the inclusion criteria of the list were to state that "only high-profile jokes are recorded here". (In any event, the lesser-known ones probably would not have sufficient reliable sources.) Reaper Eternal (talk) 10:46, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

I agree that a List of April Fool's Day jokes is the way to go. Who wants to get the ball rolling in creating that article? A Quest For Knowledge (talk) 14:30, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Just move it. Choyoołʼįįhí:Seb az86556 ^{> haneʼ} 14:31, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Much of what was removed was notable enough to have entire articles written about them. True that there was quite a bit, but simply lumping all of it together as a reason for removal seems unwarranted.--JOJ ^Hutton 14:42, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ OK, I created List of April Fool's Day jokes. A Quest For Knowledge (talk) 14:51, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

• Comment - So the real April Fools joke is that the solution to a section in an article that appears to be an "example farm", is to create a completely new article with the same objectionable subject matter. That sounds like a wikipedia solution to me :).--JOJ ^Hutton 18:40, 3 April 2011 (UTC)

Date formats for this article

User:RiggsX has twice (over three edits) changed the format for dates in this article from "Month Day" to "Day Month". The first time he/she was reverted [3]. I reverted the second time [4]. Per WP:BRD, I've asked him/her to gain consensus on the change here before making it. The earliest versions of the article used "Month Day" format, and per WP:MOSNUM this should only be changed if there are "strong nationalist ties to a topic". As far as I can tell, this user's only edits are to change the date formats in articles, so if he/she continues without discussing, I would consider that disruptive and ask for administrator intervention. Kcowolf (talk) 00:00, 4 July 2011 (UTC)

Notified RiggsX about this discussion. Kcowolf (talk) 00:06, 4 July 2011 (UTC)