April Fools' Day

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Lesson Transcript

Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark, Lesson 12 - April Fools' Day

Hello and welcome to the Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark Series at DanishClass101.com.

In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Danish holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 12, April Fools' Day. In Danish, it’s called første april.

No one quite feels safe from pranking on April 1st. The question is, who has more fun, the pranker or the person being pranked?

For those scheming the best prank yet, pranksters have a full year to execute the perfect plan.

In this lesson, you'll learn more about how the Danish prank each other on April Fool's Day.

Now, before we go into more detail, do you know the answer to this question:

Which pranks did they play in the 17th century, when Aprils Fools’ Day came to Denmark?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

Over the years, pranksters have become more sophisticated in their scheming, and "pranks," or narrestreger, are more elaborate than ever. The closer you are to a friend, the more you should be watching your back come April 1st. The Internet has given pranksters an even a greater chance to research and then hatch the perfect prank.

There are also more innocent pranks, such as "fake parking tickets," falske parkeringsbøder, or "food coloring," madkulør, in your milk.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the mass media has traditionally published "fake stories," or falske historier, on April Fool's Day to play a prank on viewers. People often have mixed feelings about whether these fake news stories are innocent fun or cause distrust in the news.

The stories often involve animals, climate, or societal matters. For example, in one prank segment, it was reported that a shark had been released in the Kattegat Center because of an issue with the tank drain. In another year, a metro train had reportedly derailed onto City Hall Square in Copenhagen.

There are actually two prank days during the year. You can also be pranked on May 1st, for majkat. The name originates from an old superstition that a May cat has a bad vision.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question:

Which pranks did they play in the 17th century, when Aprils Fools’ Day came to Denmark?

People sent each other out to do errands that were impossible to complete. For instance, an apprentice was given the task to find non-existent tools by their supervisors. Even today, there are some victims that fall for the prank.