April Fools' Day Quiz: How Much Do You Actually Know About April Fools' Day?

April Fools' Day is celebrated on 1st April. This day is known for playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. It is widely observed in many countries, where people prank their friends, family, and coworkers. The tradition of April Fools' Day is believed to have originated in the late 16th century in France when the calendar was changed, and New Year's Day was moved from the end of March to 1st January. Those who continued to celebrate the old New Year's Day were called "April fools" and were subjected to ridicule and pranks. Hence, 1st April became the designated day for playing tricks and jokes.

In Scotland, April Fools' day is known as "Hunt the gowk day". This is a traditional Scottish term for April Fools' day, where "gowk" refers to a foolish person or a cuckoo. On this day, people play pranks and tricks on each other, similar to the customs observed on April Fools' day in other parts of the world.

In Canada and England, it is a common belief that April Fools' jokes should only be played until noon. This means that after noon, it is no longer considered appropriate to continue playing pranks or jokes. Therefore, the statement that April Fools' jokes should be played until noon only is true in these countries.

Scotland celebrates April Fools Day for two days consecutively. This tradition is known as "Hunting the Gowk" or "Hunting the Fool" and dates back to the 18th century. On April 1st, people play pranks and jokes on each other, and the following day, April 2nd, is known as "Taily Day" when pranks involving the backside or tail are common. This unique celebration sets Scotland apart from other countries that typically only celebrate April Fools Day on the 1st of April.

In French, "Poisson d'Avril" translates to "April Fish". This is because in France, on April Fool's Day, it is customary to play pranks and jokes on others by attaching a paper fish to their back without them noticing. The term "April Fish" refers to this tradition and is used to describe the pranks and jokes played on this day.

In 1582, the tradition of celebrating April Fools' Day is believed to have started when the French people switched to a different calendar. This new calendar, known as the Gregorian calendar, moved the start of the new year from the end of March to January 1st. However, some people either refused to accept the new calendar or remained unaware of the change. These individuals continued to celebrate the new year during the old date, which fell around the end of March. Others started playing pranks on them, leading to the tradition of April Fools' Day.

In Portugal, it is a custom to celebrate April Fool's day by throwing flour at their friends. This tradition is known as "Dia das Mentiras" or "Day of Lies." On this day, people play pranks and jokes on each other, and throwing flour is one of the common pranks. It is a lighthearted and fun way to celebrate the day and bring laughter to friends and family.

The Korean royal family is known for their tradition of playing pranks and telling lies on April first. This is a unique characteristic of this particular family, as it is not a common practice in other royal families such as the British or Saudi royal families.

In Brazil, April Fool's Day is known as "Dia da Mentira," which translates to "Lie day." This suggests that on this day, people in Brazil engage in playful deception and tell lies to trick or prank others. It is a day where individuals can play practical jokes and spread false information with the intention of amusing or surprising others.

Ukraine observes an official holiday on 1st April.