Test Your Knowledge of April Fool's Day (redux)

The day of the prankster is upon us again. I'm talking about April Fool's Day in particular.

Sometimes we play along with things from childhood on up without any knowledge of why we're doing what we're doing. Let that end here for you for this first day in April.

Do you know much about April Fool's Day? Find out with the following questions (you can check your answers below)...

1. Not much more than just theories exist as to the origin of April Fool's Day. Which of the following is the most popular theory?

(a) It was an annual tradition for the Queen of England to invite court jesters to entertain her family on this day;

(b) It started when French countrymen in the 1500s continued to recognize the New Year as starting in late March/early April after the calendar was changed ~ these became known as "April fools";

(c) The Emperor Constantine allowed for a jokester to be king for a day; Thus the first day of April was declared as the day for this absurdity;

(d) April 1st is when Albert Von de Prank (who enjoyed telling jokes) was born; He would eventually become Lord of Pranksters, South Wales.

2. Though many place the apostrophe in April Fool's Day as I just did here, the correct placement really is:

(a) April Fools' Day;
(b) April Fools Day (no apostrophe);
(c) April' Fools Day;
(d) April Fool's Day.

3. Depending on the nationality April Fool's Day has been approached differently by different cultures. Which following two are NOT true for the countries mentioned?

(a) The second day of a two-day period of celebration in Scotland is called "Taily Day" from which the "kick me" sign can be traced;

(b) The second day of a two-day period of celebration in Scotland is called "Squirt Gun" day where everybody is encouraged to bring a squirt gun to work to spray their boss;

(c) Mexico actually included thirty minutes of required siesta (napping) as a part of their April Fool's Day celebrations;

(d) Mexico actually remembered King Herod's slaughter of the innocent children on their April Fool's Day counterpart which eventually became devoted to pranks, trickery.

4. Which of the following has NOT been documented as a well-known/famous prank (each are clickable links)?

(a) UFOs landing in London;
(b) A bomb dropped on German soldiers in World War I;
(c) Sonora city name changed to Sonoma;
(d) A law passed requiring dogs to be painted white.

5. Instead of being called a fool in England, you are called a what?

(a) a gob;
(b) a gawby;
(c) a gobby;
(d) all of the above.

6. The Bronx Zoo in New York had which of the following jokes pulled on them year after year (I'm not sure if it continues today):

(a) Someone would open the Monkey pen and let them all out;
(b) An ad would be placed in the newspaper to hire a new Lion trainer since the last one was eaten;
(c) Flyers would be circulated saying that zoo admission was free on April 1st;
(d) Thousands of phone calls would come into the zoo asking for: "Mr. Lyon," "Mr. Fox," "Mr. Wolf," or "Mr. Baer," among others.

7. As there are so many phobias so there is one for April Fool's Day. It goes by the following term:

(a) Aphrilophobia;
(b) Katagelophobia;
(c) Ereuthophobia;
(d) Traumatophobia.

Answers: 1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (a) and (d) 4. (c) 5. (d) 6. (d) 7. (a)

(This test was developed and based on information from the following websites: April Fool's Day Facts: Behind The Laughs, Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes Of All Time, April Fool's Day - History, Traditions, and Foolishness, snopes.com - April Fools' Day Origins, Timeline results for April Fool's Day and April Fool's History, Legend, Folklore - Brownielocks.)

(Above picture is in the public domain: click here.)