It’s almost that time again: April 1st, the day when people play pranks on each other en masse. Cookies are filled with toothpaste, language settings on computers are changed, and coins are glued to the ground.
But what are the best April Fools’ pranks that have fooled people worldwide? We have listed the most famous and successful April Fools’ jokes for you in this top 10.
Flying Penguins (2008, United Kingdom)
In 2008, the BBC broadcast a documentary about a newly discovered colony of flying penguins in Antarctica. The fact that it was aired by the reliable BBC, combined with realistic computer animations for the time, convinced many viewers of the existence of these extraordinary birds.
Spaghetti Grows on Trees (1957, United Kingdom)
In 1957, the BBC broadcast a report showing Swiss farmers picking spaghetti from trees. Many viewers believed the story and wondered how they could grow their own spaghetti trees. In 1960, a spaghetti tree was even displayed at the Floriade in the Netherlands as a tribute to this prank.
The Color TV Trick (1962, Sweden)
Swedish television presenter Kjell Stensson told viewers in 1962 that they could turn their black-and-white televisions into color TVs by stretching a nylon stocking over the screen. Thousands of viewers tried it immediately, without success.
Left-Handed Whopper (1998, United States)
In 1998, Burger King advertised the “Left-Handed Whopper,” a burger specifically for left-handed customers. The bun and ingredients were supposedly rotated 180 degrees to make it easier for lefties to eat. Thousands of customers ordered the new burger, while others specifically asked for the “right-handed” version.
An Iceberg in Sydney (1978, Australia)
In 1978, a businessman towed a massive “iceberg” into Sydney Harbor to draw attention to his company, which sold ice cubes. When the sun came out and the fire department kept the iceberg wet, the white foam and wet sheets melted away, revealing a sign that read “April Fool.”
Volcanic Eruption (1974, United States)
Residents of a village in Alaska woke up in 1974 to black smoke rising from Mount Edgecumbe, a volcano that had been dormant for centuries. People poured into the streets in panic. However, the smoke turned out to be from hundreds of old tires dumped into the crater and set on fire by prankster Porky Bickar.
San Serriffe, a Semicolon-Shaped Island (1977)
The Guardian published a seven-page supplement about San Serriffe, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. The geography was entirely based on typographic terms: the main islands were named “Upper Caisse” and “Lower Caisse,” and the leader was General Pica. Readers called all day for vacation information.
Reduced Gravity Due to Unique Planetary Alignment (1976)
British astronomer Patrick Moore announced on the radio that at 9:47 AM, a unique alignment between Pluto and Jupiter would temporarily reduce Earth’s gravity. If people jumped at that exact moment, they would float. The station was flooded with callers claiming they had indeed floated through their rooms.
Sidd Finch, the Best Baseball Player Ever (1985)
Sports Illustrated wrote about a new pitcher for the New York Mets, Sidd Finch, who could throw a ball at 168 mph. He supposedly learned the technique in a Tibetan monastery. Mets fans were ecstatic until it was revealed to be a fictional character created by author George Plimpton.
Easter Island Statues Wash Ashore (1962)
This is perhaps the best Dutch April Fools’ prank ever. Sculptor Edo Tetterode spread the news that a mysterious Easter Island statue had washed ashore on the beach of Zandvoort. Hundreds of people flocked to the coast to witness the miracle, only to find the statue wearing a laurel wreath with the text “April 1st.”