Our Favorite April Fools’ Pranks
The exact origin of April Fools Day has been questioned and debated for years — with some even claiming it dates back to Noah and the ark.
Nevertheless, the custom of setting aside a day for playing harmless pranks has been observed by many cultures throughout the centuries. In the spirit of April foolishness, here are three of our all-time favorite hoaxes:
A Bumper Pasta Crop
On April 1, 1957, the BBC ran a segment on spaghetti farmers in Switzerland harvesting a bumper crop, thanks to mild weather and the elimination of the “spaghetti weevil.”
The prank included film footage (at right) of laborers diligently picking pasta off trees. With television being a relatively new medium at the time, many credulous Britons were taken in.
Some even contacted the BBC to ask where they could purchase a spaghetti bush.
Animal Cover-Up
On April 1, 2016, the National Geographic Society announced to the world via Twitter that it would no longer publish photographs of naked animals in its monthly magazine.
A link to the digital magazine explained that the media group “will no longer degrade animals by showing photos of them without clothes.”
The accompanying slideshow displayed a gallery of adorably dressed puppies and kittens.
Don’t Miss the Exit!
Alex Boese is curator of the Museum of Hoaxes which, according to its website, is located in San Diego and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The site provides the following helpful directions to the museum:
“If you’re in the downtown [San Diego] area, get on I-5 north and keep driving until you see a giant floating jackalope off to your right. You can’t miss it!
If you reach LA, you’ve gone too far. Turn around and try again. Just remember that the giant floating jackalope will now be on your left-hand side.”
Even with such precise directions, however, people frequently email Boese to ask how they can find his museum.
And because he’s an honest man, Boese tells them the truth: There is no actual museum; it’s a hoax.
Happy April Fools Day
from AG Law!
Sources:
Featured Image: Adobe, License Granted
ARS Technica
National Geographic
Museum of Hoaxes