Learn about April Fool's Day in the US
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| Hi everyone, I'm Alisha. |
| April Fools' Day is one of the most beloved, and some would say pointless, holidays in the United States. In fact, its lighthearted nature is part of what makes it so popular. |
| There is a popular misconception regarding the origin of April Fools' Day. Do you know what it is? |
| We’ll show you the answer at the end of this video. |
| The events associated with April Fools' Day are not officially organized and are often not observed intentionally. This is a holiday when just about everybody gets a prank or two played on them in the United States. |
| Americans generally celebrate April Fools' Day by looking for any opportunity they can find to play a prank on their friends. In fact, this is really the only point of the entire holiday. April Fools' Day is not marked by parades, speeches, or other events. This holiday is all about fun! |
| On April Fools' Day, you'll find people falling victim to pranks that are elaborate and simple, alike. A lot of the time, the pranks involve telling somebody something outrageous or false and, if they're gullible enough to believe it, saying "April fools!" to let them know that they've been had by a prank. |
| Even companies get into the action on April Fools' Day in the United States. For example, Google, the Internet search giant, became famous for adding features to its Google Earth and Maps products that were downright ridiculous. If you tried to plot a walking route across an ocean, for example, you might get advice to use a kayak or a jet ski to traverse the natural barrier. |
| April Fools' Day is not just an American holiday. It actually dates back to earlier holidays, including the Roman festival of Hilaria. The idea of having a holiday specifically to play pranks isn't a United States tradition alone! |
| And now here's the answer to the quiz. |
| Do you know what a popular misconception is regarding the origin of April Fools' Day? |
| Contrary to popular belief, April Fools' Day is not rooted in people mistaking April 1st for the beginning of the New Year. In fact, there are references to this holiday known to historians that date back as early as the late 1300s. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? |
| Does April Fools' Day exist in your country? If so, what are some traditional tricks or jokes for this day? |
| Please leave a comment at EnglishClass101.com |
| Until next time! |
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