Tricks, Pranks, Hoaxes, and Mind Games

April Fool’s Day: a day filled with practical pranks and humorous hoaxes, but who is actually planning to pull off a devious trick today?

“Maybe I’ll tell my sister we don’t have school because it’s supposed to snow and she won’t get out of bed,” joked Margaret Martell, a Junior at Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH).

There are different theories of the origins of April Fool's, but the most popular says it first started back to the 16th century when the Gregorian Calendar moved New Year’s Day from April 1 to January 1. News traveled slow back then and people still celebrating on April 1 were called April fools and became the subject of pranks. Whatever the origin, that tradition has continued throughout years. Kids and adults alike use the day as an opportunity to prank their friends, families, co-workers or even strangers.

When asked if she would prank any of her friends or family members, Brooke Gibbens a Junior at RFH said, “I don’t know yet, but I might.” Steph Szakats, an RFH Junior, said she definitely plans on doing something to throw off her mom’s routine, but she hasn’t come up with just the right idea as of Thursday.

Mr. Beatty, a teacher in the Social Studies Department at RFH said, “I’m kind of impartial to April Fools Day. I don’t really participate in it.” But, he said if you are going to try to pull off a prank, it has to be part of an everyday occurrence in order to have the best effect.

Over at Forrestdale, there is a little bit more enthusiasm among the students, perhaps to the dismay of the Forresdale teachers and staff. Frankie Delaney, an 8^th grade student at Forrestdale says, “Maybe I’ll trick one of my teachers. It wouldn’t be the first time I did!” During recess, he said there was a lot of talk about pranks students were planning to do to their friends and family.

Today is the day, so if you are like these students and have not come up with your April Fool's Plan yet, here are 5 suggestions from April Fool Zone. 

• Toilet Trouble: Put a piece of bubblewrap under the toilet seat so when your victim sits, they are surprised by a loud POP!
• Forgetful: Tape magnets to the bottom of an empty coffee cup, and attach it to the top of your car. Laugh at all the people who frantically try to get your attention as you drive by.
• Do the Splits: Find a scrap of cloth. Place a dollar on the floor and stay nearby. When the victim comes by and bends down to pick up the dollar, rip the cloth loudly. Most people will reach back to see if they ripped their pants. One of the original classic April Fool's pranks of all time!
• Trip and Slip: Wait until your victim is in the kitchen. Come in and start filling a bucket with water (tell them you're washing the car or something). Only instead of actually filling the bucket, just pretend. Lift the bucket with both hands, acting like it's heavy and filled with water. Take a couple of steps in the victim's direction and suddenly "trip" and aim the bucket right toward them. They'll duck thinking they're getting splashed!
• Stop the Calls: If the victim has a phone with a hook that presses down when the handset is in the cradle, tape it down. When he or she answers a call it will keep ringing.

Happy April Fools Day and remember to keep your gaurd up! You never know who will be pranking you.