Pranks end when? April Fool's Day etiquette explained

APRIL Fool's Day can be a welcome diversion from humdrum office life.

However, there’s often a bit of confusion around when April Fool's pranks should take place. Let's go over some unofficial ground rules.

What time does April Fool's end?

Traditionally, April Fool's jokes and pranks should only be pulled until midday on April 1.

It is celebrated differently around the world.

But in England, when the clock strikes noon, you are meant to come clean about your pranks.

Despite this, you would likely get away with an afternoon prank; busy work schedules often mean that people don’t have time for pranks in the morning.

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Brits are often delaying their gags for friends, family and kids until the evening, and some are even telling their jokes before April 1.

Why does April Fool's end at 12?

According to tradition, April Fool's Day pranks are meant to end at 12 noon sharp – a handy rule for parents wanting to minimise fooling around at the dinner table.

There are many simple food-centred pranks floating around on social media, after all.

Anyone playing a joke after midday is considered the official April fool.

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The origin of this particular rule was not clear.

It is also believed that jokes played after noon bring bad luck to the perpetrator.

What are the April Fool's Day rules? 

While there is no official rulebook for April Fool's Day, a good prank should do no harm, nor break any laws. 

The essence of an April Fool’s prank is to fool your victim. 

Traditional April fool pranks include gluing a coin to the pavement, putting salt in a sugar bowl, and tricking someone into believing their shoelaces are untied.

You can even prank your friends via text with these ideas.

Some believe the first link between April 1 and playing tricks can be found in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales from 1392.

In The Nun's Priest's Tale a fox tricks rooster Chauntecleer on "syn March bigan thritty dayes and two.”

While Chaucer probably meant 32 days after March (May 2), many readers seemingly took the line to mean March 32 — or April 1.

held by some is that April Fool's Day was the result of a desire to celebrate the turning of the seasons at springtime.

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Although originating from a much harsher scenario, today, April Fool's Day is today seen in a positive light.

Every person has some memory of being pranked or playing a prank on their loved ones on this day.

 

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