April Fools' jokes and the art of lying: why we keep falling for them

What does a spaghetti tree have to do with 1 April? And why do even clever minds believe in burgers for left-handers?

Why do lies sometimes make us laugh? Whether white lies, black lies or media fraud – what is behind the tradition, how has it changed and why does it remain significant in an increasingly digitalised world?

What it is about

• What is an April Fool's joke actually?

• Since when have there been April Fool's jokes at the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg?

• Why is April 1 considered an unlucky day?

• What is the connection between April Fools‘ jokes and lies?

• What is the difference between white lies and black lies?

• Why do people keep falling for April Fools’ jokes?

• How do April Fools' jokes work in the digital world?

• What role do the media play in lies on 1 April?

• What does a spaghetti tree have to do with the BBC?

• Is the April Fool's joke still significant today?

What is an April Fool's joke, anyway?

An April Fool's joke is a form of planned deception – a deliberately invented story or piece of information that is published punctually on 1 April and is often considered to be untrue. The aim is to pull someone's leg, or make a fool of someone in a humorous way. The lie is usually revealed later, traditionally with the phrase ‘April Fool!’

The custom of April Fools’ Day is considered a tradition in many countries. It shows how closely humour, confusion and trust are linked. People are increasingly filming their pranks as part of a global prank culture.

Similar customs worldwide

April Fools' jokes are not only found in Europe. Other cultures also have similar forms of collective pranks.

• Spain & Latin America: Día de los Santos Inocentes (28 December)

• France: Poisson d'avril – stick an April fish on someone's back

• India: Holi festival – less deception, but similar joy of chaos

What this shows: Playing with illusion and reality is deeply rooted in our culture.

Where do April Fools‘ jokes come from?

No one knows for sure – but there are many theories about the origin of April Fools’ jokes. The only thing that is certain is that the custom of ‘fooling around in April’ has a long history.

The earliest traces: Bavaria, 1618

The first written mention of the custom comes from Bavaria. In 1618, someone there was ‘sent April’ – a phrase that quickly became part of everyday language. However, the term ‘April Fool's joke’ did not appear until the 19th century.

Calendar reform and cultural confusion are topics that Gunther Hirschfelder from the University of Regensburg also covers.

One of the most well-known theories is that in 1564, the French King Charles IX officially moved the beginning of the year from 1 April to 1 January. Some people continued to celebrate at the end of March out of habit – and were ridiculed for doing so. They were called ‘April fools’.

What's interesting about this is that

The April Fool's joke would then be a ritual born out of cultural insecurity – a game with upheavals, calendar logic and habit.

Other possible origins:

The Augsburg ‘Coin Day’ (1530):

Traders speculated on an announced Coin Day on 1 April – which however never took place. Many lost money and were laughed at.

The capture of Brielle (1572):

In the Netherlands, the city of Brielle was conquered by the Watergeusen on 1 April. To this day, the saying goes: ‘Op 1 april verloor Alva zijn bril’ – ‘On 1 April, Alba lost his glasses.’

A royal prank:

The French King Henry IV is said to have been lured to a secret rendezvous at a pleasure palace – where, instead of a lover, his wife and the entire royal household awaited him.

Why is 1 April considered an unlucky day?

In ancient times, certain days were considered particularly dangerous – including 1 April. It was associated with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. The alleged entry of Lucifer into hell is also said to have taken place on this day. The day was therefore considered unlucky.

These cultural associations combine with people's playful side. The combination of fear, uncertainty and surprise is what makes April Fools‘ Day jokes so exciting.

What is the connection between April Fools’ jokes and lies?

April Fools‘ jokes are a special kind of lie – a fib with an expiry date. While classic lies are usually told for one's own benefit, April Fools’ jokes are more likely to surprise or amuse.

What makes April Fools' jokes special is that their deception is socially accepted. It may even seem absurd – the only thing that matters is that it works.

What's the difference between a white lie and a black lie?

White lies are little untruths that don't harm anyone – such as a compliment that isn't meant entirely honestly. Black lies, on the other hand, often have selfish or manipulative goals.

When it comes to telling lies on 1 April, the line between the two becomes blurred: a well-executed April Fool's joke remains harmless, but is sometimes perceived as a black lie – for example, when someone is deliberately exposed.

Why do people fall for April Fool's jokes time and again?

Because we are programmed for narrative logic and trust. If a message sounds credible and comes from a reputable source, we believe it – even if it is made up.

Example: The hamburger for left-handers, announced by Burger King on 1 April 1998. Many people took the absurd idea seriously – a sign of how easily even ‘classic’ lies are believed.

How do April Fools' jokes work in the digital world?

Today, however, direct interaction is often missing on 1 April. Spontaneity is lost through digitally communicated and increasingly asynchronous exchanges.

What remains is an increasingly commercial component. Jokes are prepared, scripted, and enriched with viral elements. April Fools‘ jokes become a campaign – with fact checking and media coverage. Humour is changing.

What role does the media play in lying on April Fools’ Day?

Since the advent of modernity, the media has always been part of the game. In 1957, for example, the BBC deceived people with a report about a spaghetti tree – many people actually believed that spaghetti grows on trees. The Tagesschau once claimed that the signature tune would no longer be played live in the future.

Today, April Fools' jokes in the media are well considered: What attracts attention – and what endangers credibility?

The common denominator: playing with expectation and embarrassment

Whether religious symbolism, political upheaval or economic fallacies – April Fools' jokes dig deep into collective patterns. They thrive on interrupting the everyday, letting expectations come to nothing and briefly turning the world's order upside down.

The punch line arises from the tension between irritation and relief – a game that runs across cultures, times and social classes.

The social code behind the joke

As early as the beginning of the 20th century, the French sociologist Émile Durkheim described how rituals serve to create social cohesion. They not only make differences visible, but also allow us to experience common ground. The April Fool's joke is just such a ritual: it separates a particular day from the rest of the year and allows certain boundaries to be crossed during this period. Anthropologist Victor Turner also speaks of ‘liminal phases’ – threshold times when normal rules are suspended. 1 April is such a threshold: here, deception is allowed without moral sanctions. The world is briefly turned ‘upside down’ – as during carnival or the ritual role reversal in initiation rites.

Disgrace as a social experience

In everyday life, embarrassment is considered humiliating. But in the context of April Fools' Day, it is ritualised – and thus rendered harmless. Being taken for a ride is not an individual weakness, but part of a collective game.

Communication sociologist Erving Goffman showed that in everyday life, everyone involved constantly tries to ‘save face’. The April Fool's joke deliberately – but gently – breaks this principle. The resolution (‘April fool!’) acts like a reset button: it was just a game, nobody has seriously lost.

This only works because everyone involved knows: different rules apply today.

Why laughter is important

Laughing after a successful joke fulfils a social function. It is a sign that no one has been seriously harmed. The person who has been tricked is not laughed at, but symbolically ‘re-admitted’. This restores the social order – and, paradoxically, strengthens the trust that was briefly irritated by the joke.

Seen in this light, the April Fool's joke is a little play:

• with clearly defined roles (deceiver and deceived)

• with a planned sequence (irritation – resolution – relaxation)

• and with an implicit agreement that everything remains within certain bounds.

The April Fool's joke is a socially acceptable game of deception. It allows controlled irritation – and in doing so, shows how strong our need for order, trust and shared meaning is.

It reminds us that reality is negotiable – and that laughing together at nonsense is a deeply social practice.

How April Fools' tricks trick our perception

Spaghetti grows on trees (BBC, 1957)

In 1957, the BBC showed a “documentary” about farmers in Switzerland harvesting spaghetti from trees. Many British people believed it to be true – and asked the broadcaster for growing tips.

Why it worked:

• The BBC was considered extremely trustworthy

• Pictures showed people ‘picking’ spaghetti

• At that time, pasta was still largely unknown in Great Britain

What this shows:

This example of the perfect April Fool's joke shows: if the setting, language and medium are right, people will believe even the most unlikely things. The BBC took advantage of their trust and proved that lies are always a matter of presentation.

People believe what they see – especially if the source seems credible.

The dangerous environmental toxin ‘dihydrogen monoxide’

Sounds threatening? But it isn't. Dihydrogen monoxide is nothing more than water (H₂O).

Why it worked:

• The chemical name sounded dangerous

• Facts were not distorted, only named differently

• Reliable sources gave the message credibility

What this shows:

Language guides perception through cognitive framing – even when there is nothing wrong with the content.

The left-handed Whopper (Burger King, 1998)

Burger King ran an ad: A new Whopper for left-handers – with swapped toppings.

Why it worked:

• The problem seemed understandable

• The proposed solution was charming

• Big brands enjoy basic trust

What this shows:

Humour and everyday practicality generate a high level of credibility – even with invented products.

Flying Penguins (BBC, 2008)

A modern version of the spaghetti case: the BBC presented an elaborate documentary about flying penguins.

Why it worked:

• High-quality visuals (animation + acting)

• Prominent narrator (Terry Jones)

• Trust in public broadcasting

What this shows:

Even the impossible seems possible when told in a visually convincing way.

Pokémon on Google Maps (Google, 2014)

Google hid Pokémon in Google Maps. Whoever found them all could become a ‘Pokémon Master’.

Why it worked:

• Interactive component

• Digital game with augmented reality character

• Fun, playful implementation

What this shows: Good April Fools' jokes generate participation. And sometimes they become reality: Pokémon Go was born from this idea.

What all successful April Fools‘ jokes have in common

1. They play with cultural trust

Whether it's a news channel, a global brand or a scientific-sounding term, good April Fools’ jokes work because they exploit expectations that we associate with certain sources or formats, and are often based on falsehood.

• BBC = facts

• Scientific jargon = truth

• Advertising = real products

This means that those who trust are less likely to ask questions.

2. They offer apparent plausibility

An April Fool's joke is not completely absurd – it is just believable enough to catch on.

Examples:

• Left-handed burgers sound crazy, but they're doable.

• Spaghetti crops seem exotic, but not impossible.

This means: Good jokes walk the line between ‘could be’ and ‘never in this life’.

3. They use media staging

Visual evidence, professional presentation, credible speakers – all of this contributes to the effect.

This means: Staging replaces content-related persuasion.

4. They activate emotions

Surprise, curiosity, amazement, laughter – or sometimes anger and irritation.

This means: Jokes work when they touch people emotionally.

5. They tell a story

An April Fool's joke without a story remains flat. Good examples create a small world, with a plot and resolution.

This means: stories create depth and are memorable.

Why we fall for it year after year

Despite all the warnings, despite the calendar note: many people still fall for April Fool's jokes today.

Reasons for this:

• Time pressure when reading

• Trust in known sources

• Low media literacy

• Desire for sensationalism

Another reason: FOMO is a modern untruth that is widespread in today's society. Those who believe it first share it quickly – and don't want to be the last. This makes April Fools‘ jokes the ideal template for viral content.

The story continues: the digital April Fools’ joke in the age of social media

Over the last two decades, April Fools' Day has changed dramatically. What used to be printed on newspaper paper or broadcast on TV now spreads in seconds via Instagram, TikTok or X (formerly Twitter). The mechanisms remain similar – but the speed, reach and risks have increased.

2020s: When the joke becomes a crisis

For example:

In 2020 – at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic – many media refrained from April Fools‘ jokes. The public space was already full of misinformation and uncertainty. In this atmosphere, the April Fools’ joke lost its innocence.

Why this is important:

Jokes only work when the environment allows for levity. In times of real crisis, this space is lacking – and a joke can quickly become a breach of trust.

Deepfakes & AI: The new frontier

In 2023, a video of Pope Francis wearing a designer down jacket circulated. It wasn't an April Fool's joke – it was an AI-generated deepfake. But it felt like one. What this shows is that

we have reached a point where technology can imitate reality so perfectly that the difference is barely recognisable. April Fools‘ jokes are losing their tongue-in-cheek quality and risk becoming part of a bigger problem: targeted disinformation.

Where does the joke end?

The key question is: What does Philipp Gerlach say about the origin of April Fools’ jokes? When does an April Fools' joke go from humorous to dangerous? Answer:

• When it triggers fears (e.g. fake news about environmental disasters)

• When it causes economic damage (e.g. manipulates stock prices)

• When it deliberately promotes prejudices or conspiracy thinking

A good joke makes you laugh – not feel uncomfortable, which also reflects the opinion of Philipp Gerlach.

The April Fool's joke of the future?

Perhaps the future of the April Fool's joke lies not in ever more sophisticated deceptions – but in conscious reflection on belief, knowledge and deception.

What about, for example, an April Fool's joke that exposes itself as a joke? A kind of ‘meta’ joke that breaks the game:

A message posted on April Fools‘ Day that is so bizarre that it is not believed... but turns out to be true after all.

Sounds like a paradox? Welcome to the digital age, where the saying “welcome” takes on a new meaning.

The April Fools’ Day of the future?

Perhaps the future of April Fools‘ Day lies not in ever more sophisticated deceptions, but in a conscious reflection on belief, knowledge and deception.

What about, for example, an April Fools’ Day joke that exposes itself as a joke? A kind of ‘meta’ joke that breaks the game:

A message published on 1 April that is so bizarre that it is not believed... but is true after all.

Sounds like a paradox? Welcome to the digital age.

April Fools‘ jokes – meant seriously?

How did the April Fools’ tradition come about?

The exact origin is unknown, but the custom was first mentioned in writing in Bavaria in 1618. One popular theory traces it back to the calendar reform of 1564, when Charles IX moved the beginning of the year from 1 April to 1 January. People who continued to celebrate New Year in April were ridiculed – and the April Fool's joke was born.

What was the best April Fool's joke?

The BBC's ‘spaghetti tree’ from 1957 remains a classic. Viewers really believed that spaghetti grows on trees – a prime example of the power of reputable media when it comes to well-staged lies.

How old is the April Fool's tradition?

It is over 400 years old. The first documented mention dates back to – no joke – 1618.

In which countries do we have April Fools' Day?

In many: Germany, France, Great Britain, the United States, the Netherlands – but also in parts of Latin America, where the “Día de los Santos Inocentes” is celebrated on 28 December.

When do we actually start telling lies?

Studies show that even small children as young as three years old start telling simple lies, usually to get themselves out of trouble. April Fools' Day elevates this skill to an art form.

Are there any justified lies?

Philosophically, this is debatable. Many say yes, if they do no harm or are told to spare feelings. April Fools‘ jokes thrive on precisely this grey area.

But are all lies the same?

No. There are differences: conscious deception, exaggeration, ironic lies and, of course, April Fools’ jokes. Some lies are harmful, others tricky, like the classic pranks that often occur in April. The trick is to know when to use which form.

April Fool's joke or fake news?

The difference lies in the intention and resolution: an April Fool's joke is usually resolved, while a lie told as an April Fool's joke is not so easy to recognise. But in times of digital confusion, the lines are blurring.

What do you think of April Fool's jokes?

Some love them, others feel embarrassed. The tone is crucial – a good April Fool's joke makes you laugh, not feel ashamed.

The most important findings at a glance

• Even today, April Fools' Day remains a mirror of our relationship to truth, trust and communication.

• Jokes exploit our trust in authorities.

• They work through clever narrative structures and staging

• Emotions and curiosity make them go viral

• They reflect cultural patterns and expectations

• The April Fool's joke has historical roots – among other things, through the calendar reform of 1564. First handed down in Bavaria in 1618, it has become an established custom.

• April Fool's jokes are based on socially accepted lies – usually with humorous intent.

• White and black lies are not always clearly distinguishable on 1 April.

• Media outlets such as the BBC and the Tagesschau have staged famous April Fools‘ jokes.

• April Fools’ jokes are changing in the digital world: they are becoming more calculated, more professional – but often less spontaneous.