(Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia)
An April Fool’s prank in Denmark, regarding Copenhagen’s new subway. It looks as if one of its cars had an accident, and had broken through and surfaced on the square in front of the town hall. In reality, it was a retired subway car, specially cut and placed on loose tiles. The sign reads, “Unexpected Guests?”

By K.P. Sander

Have you ever had an April Fools’ Day prank played on you?  Celebrated on the first of April each year, this day of tom-foolery is popular in many countries around the world.

This official day of Monkey Business has encouraged everything from a simple joke to an elaborate hoax reported by the media (to be recanted at some point in the immediate future).

April Fool’s Day goes back to the Middle Ages, and according to Wikipedia, may have originated in France as part of their New Year’s celebration.  Even the Roman Festival of Hilaria records incidents of harmless pranks being played on unsuspecting victims.  On Apr. 1, 1698, there are tales of people being tricked into visiting the Tower of London to “see the Lions washed.”

A more recent prank occurred on Apr. 1, 1996, when Virgin Cola placed an advertisement in British newspapers announcing that “in the interest of consumer safety it had integrated a new technology into its cans.”  When the cola passed its sell-by date, the liquid would react with the metal in the can, turning it a bright blue.  Virgin warned consumers to avoid the purchase of any and all blue cans.  Coincidentally – or not – Pepsi had just unveiled the redesign of its product – with bright blue cans.

Here’s hoping that on Wed., Apr. 1, 2015, you are able to enjoy a few April Fool’s Day jokes, without being the subject thereof.