April Fools' Day is a day when everyone from children to adults let their imagination run wild and indulge in jokes and pranks. Every April 1, innocent hoaxes occur all over the world that not only amuse but also surprise. Some jokes have gone down in history due to their ingenuity and audacity. Among the greatest jokers are politicians, celebrities, and companies that have effectively used this day to mislead their fans. So let's recall the biggest and loudest April Fools' Day jokes that surprised the world.
"Spaghetti Harvest" – BBC (1957)
One of the most famous hoaxes in history was a BBC documentary in 1957. The report showed how "spaghetti from trees" was harvested in Switzerland. For a few minutes, viewers witnessed people picking the pasta straight from the branches and then drying it in the sun. At that time, when spaghetti was not so popular in the UK, many people believed the joke. The BBC received many letters from surprised viewers who wanted to know how to grow their own spaghetti trees.
Google – "Google Gulp" (2007)
Google, known for its creativity, has used April Fools' Day to pull off hilarious pranks many times. In 2007, the company announced a new app, Google Gulp, that supposedly allowed users to "tag" any beverage they consumed to their Google accounts. This app supposedly showed how Google's algorithms analyzed the caffeine levels in users' bodies. Although it was just a prank, it gained huge popularity and caused confusion among users all over the world, putting a smile on many faces.
The New York Times – "The Mars Report" (2009)
On April Fools' Day, even the media and journalists were not idle. In 2009, The New York Times published an article in which it was reported that scientists had discovered evidence of life on Mars. The article contained a detailed description of the evidence that would indicate the presence of simple Martian organisms. Although the entire information was made up, some readers believed this "groundbreaking" report, which showed how easily people are mistaken, especially when it comes to scientific reports.
Taco Bell – "Sells the Liberty Bell" (1996)
In 1996, Taco Bell, one of the largest fast food chains, announced that it had purchased the Liberty Bell (a symbol of American independence) and would move it to its headquarters in North Carolina. The prank caused a huge stir in the country, with many citizens believing it to be true. The publicity was so great that Taco Bell explained that the whole thing was part of an April Fool's
Richard Nixon – "I'm Running for a Second Term" (1992)
One of the most shocking and surprising April Fools' Day jokes came from none other than Richard Nixon, former President of the United States. In 1992, on April 1, Nixon announced on television that he would run for president in 1992. The announcement caused quite a stir, and the media quickly began to speculate about Nixon's return to the political stage. It turned out to be just an April Fools' hoax. Nixon never intended to run for president after his resignation in 1974.
Amazon – "Amazon Prime Air" (2014)
Amazon using innovative technological solutions, and in 2014 the company announced the introduction of the Amazon Prime Air service. As part of this service, packages were to be delivered using drones. Although today drone deliveries are becoming more and more realistic, in 2014 this idea was absolutely futuristic. Amazon caused a huge interest, which over the course of hours turned into laughter when it turned out that the whole thing was an April Fool's joke.
Celebrity "Jokes" - From William Shatner to Ellen DeGeneres
Celebrities use April Fools' Day to surprise their fans. William Shatner, best known for his role as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek", announced in 2012 that he was retiring. Fans were horrified, and many media outlets reported the information as true. In the end, it turned out to be another April Fools' joke. On the other hand, Ellen DeGeneres, a famous talk show host, often surprises her viewers and invited guests with absurd but funny jokes that bring a smile to the faces of all participants.
"Elephants on the Motorway" - BBC (1980)
In 1980, the BBC released a story about elephants supposedly roaming a motorway in England. The joke was completed with a delayed "video" in which viewers were supposed to see the elephants. Although the whole thing turned out to be fiction, the joke convinced a wider audience - and the reaction from viewers was surprisingly serious. The BBC gained huge popularity, but also a lot of surprised calls from viewers wanting to know more about "elephants on the motorway."
How to joke on April Fools' Day?
On April Fools' Day, let your imagination run wild and surprise others. The greatest pranks in history, from politicians to celebrities, show how easy it is to mislead others and still bring them a lot of joy. While some pranks have become legends, others were so clever that they caused a real stir for a moment. Whether we are dealing with media pranks or personal ones, April Fools' Day always reminds us to have a sense of humor and not take everything too seriously.