Understanding April 1st: The Origins and Nature of “April Fools’ Day”

While the Torah teaches us to uphold truth and integrity in all our dealings—“Midvar sheker tirchak” (Shemos 23:7)—there exists in the secular world a custom observed annually on the first of April, known as “April Fools’ Day.” On this day, it has become commonplace for individuals, media outlets, and even public officials to engage in acts of deception, generally intended as jokes. These pranks are usually light-hearted, with the perpetrator revealing the jest by exclaiming, “April Fools!”

Though this practice is foreign to Torah values and certainly not observed within our kehillos, it is instructive to understand its origins and implications, especially in a world where Jewish communities often interact with broader society.

The precise origins of this day are unclear, though a number of theories have been suggested by historians. One explanation connects the custom to changes in the civil calendar in 16th-century France. In the year 1564, King Charles IX introduced a new law moving the start of the year from the end of March to January 1. Those who continued to observe the old date for the new year were reportedly ridiculed, possibly giving rise to the notion of misleading others on April 1.

Another idea associates the custom with the unpredictable nature of springtime weather around the vernal equinox. As the changing weather often deceives people into expecting warmth or cold at the wrong times, some believe this sense of trickery was adopted socially as a day of jest.

There are also references in European literature to nobles sending servants on foolish errands on this day, as recorded in 16th-century Flemish poetry. Over time, this evolved into a broader cultural practice of creating fictitious news stories, fabricating events, and other forms of mockery, especially through newspapers and, more recently, digital media.

In modern times, some of these deceptions have become widely known. For example, in 1957, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a segment showing a so-called spaghetti harvest in Switzerland. Thousands of viewers believed it to be true and contacted the station asking how they could grow spaghetti at home. Another example came in 1996, when a fast-food company claimed it had purchased a historic American symbol, leading to public outcry until the joke was revealed.

These examples highlight the lengths to which individuals and institutions will go to participate in this secular custom. Even political figures have joined in. In 2021, a prominent government official reportedly boarded a flight dressed as a crew member, distributing treats while in disguise, before revealing her identity with a playful announcement of “April Fools.”

In various countries, localized customs have developed around this day. In France, children attach paper cut-outs of fish to people’s backs and call them “April fish.” In Scotland, historically, people were sent on pointless errands. In Iceland and other places, newspapers sometimes print fabricated stories for a day.

From a Torah perspective, however, such customs raise important questions. While humor can be a source of simchah and even a tool for building relationships—as we find in Chazal that “rabbah sichasan shel talmidei chachamim”—truth must remain paramount. The Rambam (Hilchos Dei’os 2:6) emphasizes the importance of upright speech, and the Chofetz Chaim dedicated significant work to the purity of speech, including avoiding falsehood in all forms.

In our communities, where emes (truth) is cherished and cultivated, we view with caution customs rooted in mockery or deception. While some forms of permitted lightheartedness are certainly part of a Torah life when done within halachic and ethical boundaries, engaging in practices that involve misleading others—even in jest—is not in line with Torah ideals.

As such, April 1st remains a date of no significance in the Jewish calendar. It serves, however, as a reminder of the Torah’s demand for integrity in both word and deed. In a world that often blurs the line between truth and falsehood, we are called upon to be “a light unto the nations,” upholding the standards of yashrus and honesty that have defined Am Yisrael throughout the generations.