April Fools day is a traditional day of jokes and pranks, celebrated around the world on April 1. Typically, individuals play practical jokes and hoaxes on people they are close to, like friends, family members, and coworkers. The length of time by which the day is celebrated with April Fools day jokes varies from country to country, typically lasting between half of the day up until the next day.http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html

Although the exact origins of April Fools day is unknown, its first recorded appearance was in the Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1392. Other early records of April Fools day traditions date back to sixteenth century European literature.http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html

When celebrating April Fools day with jokes, there is a nearly endless possibility of material individuals can use. April Fools day jokes can range from simple shams to elaborate schemes that involve a number of people and materials. One of the most well-known and highly regarded April Fools day jokes dates back to a 1957 prank by the BBC television program Panorama. The program did a feature on women in Italy harvesting spaghetti trees, and discussed the dangers posed to the crops by the spaghetti weevil, a pest that had recently been exterminated. Following the Panorama report, the BBC received phone calls from individuals inquiring on how they could plant and grow their own spaghetti trees.http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

When pulling an April Fools day joke on anyone ensure that the joke does not lead to trouble by: making sure that the hoax is age appropriate, is not offensive to a person’s beliefs, does not do permanent damage to a person or property, and that it does not break any laws. http://www.complex.com/blogs/2009/03/31/april-fools-day-massacre-when-pranks-go-wrong/

Classic office jokes include booby trapping office chairs so that they slowly drop down over time, adding special "flavors" to coffee, and creating fake office gossip about sudden firings or promotions. Classic children's jokes are whoopie cushions, and plastic dog poop left in surprising places.

Teachers who want to pull a joke on their students can give silly pop quizzes, swap desks around the classroom, or pass out unsolvable word problems and tell 'science stories' that aren't true.

Favorite Celebrity Arrested, Facing Serious Jail Time

This joke requires that you know your victim well. Call the victim and excitedly exclaim that their favorite celebrity has been arrested on some serious charges, and that they are facing years in jail time. Tell them that the story is online and on all major news channels. Keep your composure as they frantically search for the story. When they get frustrated that they can’t find it, give them a link to an April Fools day website or image, and see how long it takes for them to catch on.http://www.101funjokes.com/celebrity_jokes.htm

Tupac Found Alive On An Island

With all of the speculation surrounding Tupac’s death, this prank is easy to pull on anyone, fan or not. Call the victim on the telephone and frantically attempt to explain that the rapper Tupac has been found on a deserted island somewhere. Let the victim know that the report is airing on all major news networks. As they search for the report, make comments as though you are watching it, like: “look how long his hair and beard are! Didn’t he used to be bald?” and “ Wow, I can’t believe he lived in a little place like that.” When the victim tells you that they cannot find the report, let them know that it just went to commercial and should be back on shortly. Give them a few minutes of anticipation on one channel before shouting “April Fools Day!”http://www.killermovies.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-335140-cnn-tupac-alive-and-well.html

Toilets Backed Up Entire Plumbing System – No Work or School

This requires that you work with, or attend school with, your victim. Wake up a little early and call the person, asking if they received the phone call. When they ask you what you are talking about, try to explain that there was an automated message sent out to everyone explaining that the plumbing in the building had become severely backed up overnight, and that school or work would be canceled for at least a week while biohazard crews clean up the mess. Wait until they get excited about the prospect of a few days at home, then exclaim “April Fools Day!”http://www.instructables.com/id/April-Fools-Toilet-Prank/

The Fake Breakup

This joke requires that you be in a relationship with someone or working with someone in a relationship. Call the victim and nervously explain how things have changed, and how a relationship is not right at the moment. Either you or your friend can call on your behalf. Don’t get too mean, as this may cause real problems between the couple, just allow the victim to get a little worked up, before yelling “April Fools Day!”http://www.humorhotlines.com/

Fake Lottery Win

This joke requires those involved to be of legal age to purchase a lottery ticket. Buy a lottery ticket with any numbers on it. Go to the lottery results website for the most recent drawing and do a screen print. Open a photo editing software, and replace the day’s winning numbers with those from your tickets. Save the image as a webpage. When you are with your victim, act like you are just surfing the internet, and suddenly remember that you purchased a lottery ticket. Have the image opened as a webpage, so that it matches the other windows you are using. Click on the image and check the “winning” numbers against those on the page. Exclaim in delight that you have won some sum of money, acting as though you are in total disbelief. Ask your friend to double check the ticket for you. When they realize you have won, celebrate with them for a moment, before exclaiming “April Fools Day!”http://mozillalinks.org/wp/2007/04/save-web-page-as-an-image/