April Fools’ Day: April 1st in New York

Where Did April Fools’ Day Come From?

• Historians agree that April Fools’ Day and its pranks originated in 17th-century France. King Charles IX had decided to reform the calendar by moving the start of the civil year from April 1 to January 1.
• This sudden change caused confusion. People who forgot the new date became targets of ridicule. Those who missed the memo were called “April fools,” and it became common to pin paper fish to their backs. April Fools’ Day was born.
• The tradition of April 1 pranks took hold and spread around the world. The United States, and New York in particular, embraced April Fools’ Day with enthusiasm.

How New York Celebrates April Fools’ Day

• The first documented April Fools’ prank in New York dates to 1698. A man convinced crowds that he was drilling a canal through the ice of the East River so a boat could pass through. April Fools’!
• The media embraced April Fools’ Day too, delighting readers and boosting sales. The first New York newspaper to publish an April Fools’ prank was the New York Sun. On April 1, 1835, the paper announced in bold headlines that life had been discovered on the moon. April Fools’! Today, pranks still swim through newspapers, radio, and television every April 1.
• Since 1986, a collective of artists and activists has organized a parade in New York on April 1. The April Fool’s Day Parade mocks the absurdities of everyday life. It takes aim at politicians and the powerful while championing the underdog against bureaucracy and greed. The parade starts at noon on April 1 at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, heading toward Washington Square Park.

CNEWYORK’s April Fools’ Pranks

The CNEWYORK team loves creating an April Fools’ prank for you every year. Many of you fall for our tricks, and we love it. Here are some of our best pranks published on the site. Which is your favorite?