6 of our favourite April Fools' Day pranks

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We've all been caught out by April Fools' Day pranks before. Whether it's a sibling putting your clock forward to make you think you're late for school, a tabloid newspaper publishing a story about Queen Elizabeth II being spotted in Poundland, or a simple whoopee cushion on your chair - we have all been tricked at least once.



As we all know, April Fools' Day falls upon April 1st every year, when you have free reign to play jokes and let out your mischievous side, branding anybody who succumbs to your tricks an 'April fool' ... at least until midday, after which you invariably become the 'fool' yourself.

But do you know where April Fools' Day originated? 

If your answer to that question is 'no', then you're not alone. Nobody really knows! There are many theories, some more plausible than others, but there isn't a general consensus on which theory happens to be true.



One popular belief is that it began with Pope Gregory XIII, who first adopted the Gregorian calendar. The new calendar moved the beginning of the year back a few months to January 1st. Whilst the changes were well publicised, there were still those who hadn't heard and proceeded to celebrate the new year on April 1st - earning themselves widespread ridicule and thus earning April Fools' Day a permanent place on our calendars.

Whether you believe that theory or not, there's not denying that April Fools' Day brings some much-needed mirth into our lives. It's a tradition long upheld by newspapers and the media, and has become a regular event on the internet, with the biggest and best-known brands getting involved in the fun.

Here are some of our favourite April Fools' pranks from past years:

BBC - Spaghetti Harvest - 1957




This one is a classic in its own right. The BBC's popular show Panorama released a broadcast showing a family in Switzerland harvesting spaghetti from trees. It resulted in hundreds of viewers phoning in to find out how they could grow their own spaghetti trees!

Waitrose - Pinanas - 2009



Waitrose shoppers may have been temporarily baffled in 2009, although we imagine these pinanas would have been a nightmare to peel.

Burger King - Flame-Grilled Fragrance - 2015



We think even the most loyal Burger King fans would be hesitant to wear to the new perfume that was announced in Japan.

Sweden - Colour TV - 1962



There was only one TV channel in Sweden in 1962, and it was in black-and-white. On April 1st, the station's 'technical expert', Kjell Stenson, told viewers how to see colour images on their television sets - by simply covering the screen with a pair of stockings! The prank was a great success, with thousands of viewers searching their house for a spare pair of tights.

Tesco - Bouncy Aisles - 2015



In 2015, Tesco came up with a trampoline-based solution for those who can't reach the top shelves.

Marmite - Clear Marmite - 2015



In a joke that you'll either love or hate - Marmite announced a new product range in 2015.


We're looking forward to seeing what pranks, jokes and spoofs everyone has in store this year!

What is your favourite April Fools' Day prank?



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