April Fool’s Day 2023 – 5 Simple Ideas to Spread Happiness

When I was young my mother always caught us out on April Fool’s Day with “Look kids, there’s a deer on the lawn.” Fooled us every time.  We felt silly but it wasn’t a big deal. But years later when my mother lived with my husband and me, my hubby carved a deer out of wood and put it on the front lawn.  Then we called her to come and see the deer on the lawn on April Fool’s morning.  It gave her such pleasure to see this deer. There was a joke but with a kind end. April Fool’s Day pranks and jokes can go either way – bring laughter and spread happiness or make others feel bad.

April Fool’s Day History

April Fool’s Day didn’t start with kind endings.  The history goes from Wiki  that in 16^th century France April 1^st and January 1^st were both celebrated as the New Year. When the new Gregorian Calendar came out showing January 1^st as the only New Year’s Day, many people didn’t get the news for a long time, (no internet, remember) and they still thought the new year was also April 1^st. This gave the others an opportunity to play tricks on them about April 1^st. Can you imagine encouraging people to hold an April 1^st New Year’s party for 100 guests and then nobody shows up?

From Frown to Smiles

Many of us have been caught off-guard in an April 1^st prank – whether it’s physical: “Look out you’re going to step in the dog poo.”   Or it could be mental: “You’re getting a raise today,” only to hear at the end of the day “April Fool’s Day.

Even though April Fool’s Day has traditionally been used to make someone feel silly, some pranks are just hurtful.  Some have gone so far as to traumatize. And while a joke is fun for everyone, it shouldn’t make a child cry or an adult suffer.

Here’s an example of how a prank can change for the good.  Dad comes home on April 1st with a brochure for a vacation in the sun. Everybody is thrilled. Then he leads them outside to a windy, snow-filled backyard and shows them a new plastic kiddy pool.  Dad thinks this is very funny.  Mom and the kids, not so much. They are let down and think Dad is mean. It’s a sad outcome.

Pranks that will spread happiness

Dad comes home on April 1^st with a note from his boss that says that he doesn’t get any holidays this summer. Everybody in the family is sad because this means they can’t go to the cottage. Then Dad shouts “April Fool’s Day” and shows them the new foam noodles that he bought for the cottage. It’s a happy outcome.

Happiness is contagious – it spreads and happy people are more kind, compassionate and giving.

5 Simple Ideas that will spread happiness on April Fool’s Day

1. If you’re the boss, play a trick on your staff. When everyone is ready to leave work, tell them with a very serious face, that they all have to come in at 7 a.m. tomorrow.  After all the ah’s, and no way’s, shout out April Fools and give them all a coupon for a breakfast sandwich and coffee at the local diner.
2. Your next-door neighbour usually helps you prepare the yard for planting in early April. When your neighbour comes over on April 1^st you go out to the garden, only to find all the weeds are pulled, the ground has been raked and the plots of land are ready for planting next month. “April Fools!”, she shouts. “I came over when you were away last weekend and did the work.”
3. In a stern voice, you tell your little sister you’d like to talk to her alone. She gets worried and follows you into the bedroom. “What’s up?” she whispers. “April Fools”, you shout. “I just wanted to get you in here to show you the graphic comic I bought you. You should see your face.”
4. When nobody’s looking, put a sign reading “honk and smile” inside someone’s car. Make sure it’s hidden and out of sight but don’t block the driver’s view. As you drive along, the driver wonders why they’re getting beeped at by drivers who smile and wave to them. When he lets you off, shout, “April Fools”, and give them another sign that says “World’s Most Popular Driver.”
5. How about a joke for the little ones? Something they can get and isn’t hurtful? Knock, knock! Who’s there? Noah. Noah who? Noah body — April Fool’s Day!

If you want o spread more kindness in the world we have ideas to last you 365 days of the year. Check out these other posts that will inspire you to give every day of the year or join us for #Do1Give Day 2023!