Five Hilarious (But Harmless) April Fool’s Day Ideas
On April 1st, April Fool’s Day is a chance to let our inner prankster loose, encouraging playful stunts and fun tricks with family, friends, and colleagues. However, for the best laughs, you don’t want to go too far and ruin someone’s day. Here are some details about this history of April Fool's Day and the best April Fool's pranks that are hilarious—but harmless. Let's get started!
What is April Fool's Day?
Allegedly dating back to 1582, April Fool's Day has a lot of history, but its true origins vary. Some historians say that April Fool's Day started back when calendars changed, and people didn't understand or know that the start of the year now began on January 1st. The people who continued to celebrate the new year during the last week of March until April 1st (near the spring equinox) were called "April Fools" and got pranked.
Over time, the fun and recognition of the holiday spread across the world, and people came up with their own entertaining customs.
When is April Fool's Day?
April Fool's Day is an annual tradition that has been around for centuries. April Fool's Day is celebrated every year on April 1st!
From National Sandwich Day to Letter-Writing Day, there are so many unique holidays. Check out the other holidays of the holiday season.
Best April Fool's Pranks
While the light-hearted opportunities are endless, these are some easy April Fool's Day pranks and "gotchas" that you can do at home. Here are five April Fool's jokes for kids and adults alike.
1. Picture This
Do you and your family members find the funny in a random celebrity, character, or pop culture moment? There’s a picture-perfect opportunity to use that for your April Fool’s Day prank. Print out pictures of the person or event and tape them around the house overnight. They can go on the fridge, replace family photos, cover a car, or even stick right on your front door. When everybody wakes up, they’ll be greeted by their favorite inside joke.
2. Keep An Eye on It
Grab a whole lot of googly eyes and stick them to the items your chosen target reaches for each morning. Add them to mugs, photos, buttons on electronics, and so much more. Whether your target is looking for breakfast or their work clothes, they’ll know they’ve been fooled once they realize everything is staring right back at them.
3. Unusual Oreos
While this is a classic trick that most people are familiar with, it won’t stop anyone from falling for it. For this stunt, take a pack of Oreos and replace the creamy filling with something similar in color, like:
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Cream cheese
Leave the open pack around your house and encourage people to take a bite. With a quick mouthwash, there’s no harm done, besides the disappointment of not getting to eat the star snack.
4. Taped TV
This might be the easiest April Fool's Day prank of all. All you need to pull off this practical joke is a piece of tape. Grab one that matches the color of your remote or TV and place it over the sensor on either device. Your prankee will be disappointed when they sit down for a binge-watching session and find they can’t get started. To level up the joke, use an extra remote to turn the TV on when they aren’t looking. They won’t know what to do until they spot the tape or you reveal your trickery.
5. Balloons in Bed
If your loved ones are familiar with you fooling around on April 1st, use this prank at the end of the day when they think they’ve escaped your plans. Swap out one (or all!) of their pillows with balloons, and when they’re ready to go to bed…pop! For a less-startling surprise, substitute balloons with bubble wrap or put a rubber chicken underneath their pillow or fitted sheet. Either way, they'll be in for a late-night surprise!
Cleaning Up After April Fool's Day Pranks at Home
While these best April Fool's Day pranks are fun, they can lead to some messy situations. Download our “Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist” for tried-and-true home cleanup pointers. By following our comprehensive cleaning list, every nook and cranny will be squeaky clean and returned to their former glory.