Talk:April Fools' Day

I don't want to get into an edit war with Sonicthemeatball over jokes end at noon, but

As far as I can tell I have provided the only valid citation for April Fools jokes ceasing at noon (The Lore and Language of School Children, Iona & Peter Opie, OUP, 1959) This source also has jokes ending at noon in the US, which this page has always given as one of the countries where it continues all day. As I have stated I do not want to get into an edit war and so will not be the one making the change.

I have some sympathy for Sonicthemeatball's beliefs that jokes continue all day (though not his fanaticism in protesting them) I think the tradition has changed in recent years with the advent of media involvement but there is no evidence beyond anecdote and personal belief and that is the big sticking point. MidlandLinda (talk) 17:54, 5 March 2012 (UTC)

• Is this really an issue? 71.178.131.76 (talk) 20:19, 18 March 2012 (UTC)
  • Read the edit history and you'll see how strongly he feels about it.MidlandLinda (talk) 15:13, 19 March 2012 (UTC)

Does the Opie source mention any of the countries in the lede, or just the UK and the USA? I've had a look around for other sources, but haven't found anything very reliable, and it mostly just mentions "some countries" without naming them. Perhaps that's the direction we should take with this article, if the only source we have is 50 years old and possibly obsolete in some respects. It'd be good to sort this out by the end of the month... --McGeddon (talk) 15:56, 19 March 2012 (UTC)

The Opie source is not definitive. Perhaps it's useful for historical information. The book's methodology was to interview children, in the 1950s. One 9 year old child said that at 4 pm on April 1, "kissing time" starts. I suggest taking out the list of countries, because we do not have up-to-date sources on that. And just mention the Opie source, later in the article, noting that it reflects interviews with children in the 1950s. See also WP:WEIGHT. Logical Cowboy (talk) 16:15, 19 March 2012 (UTC)

The Opies used the methodology of folklorist across the world and taking all four volumes of children's games and sayings together they form a pretty definitive corpus. However as I said above, I do think the tradition has changed in more recent years and the Opies are restricted to the time and geographical spread of their research. We need more than anecdote and personal belief for evidence, can anyone find anything in the on-line newspaper archives perhaps. MidlandLinda (talk) 22:03, 19 March 2012 (UTC)

Perhaps the note should mention the context of their research, rather than making it as a flat assertion with it as a supporting ref. Something along the lines of "research into common folklore conducted by Such and Such in the 1950s found that-" etc. I'm not sure one ref from the 1950s is enough for what appears to be a broad assertion in the article.Number36 (talk) 02:04, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

Hm, it appears to have been removed completely from the article now, I'm sure that's appropriate, it was sourced after all. Just the assertion may have been a bit to broad from the contents of the reference. Something about the 12 o'clock rule should be in the article, though only with due weight, considering it was only one reference unless anything further can be found.Number36 (talk) 03:28, 3 April 2012 (UTC)

It's irritating that their research continued into the 90s (the last book of the set "Children's Games with Things" includes POGS) but the earlier books have not been up-dated. They do say on page 233, in the New Year's Day entry that all customs cease at midday, giving as examples New Year, Ash Wednesday, April Fool, May Day and Royal Oak Day. They also point out that Carrying ash twigs on Ash Wednesday seems to have ceased in the 30s, and carrying oak apples on Royal Oak Day had almost disappeared in the 50s.MidlandLinda (talk) 15:11, 3 April 2012 (UTC)

Whoops, I meant to say 'I'm not sure that's appropriate' above. If it is re-added it should probably include the context of the research rather than being a flat assertion which might suggest it is current or recent information, and applies universally in those countries it mentioned.Number36 (talk) 21:16, 3 April 2012 (UTC)

How about something along the lines of "Historically, in the UK and those countries whose traditions derived from there, the joking ceased at midday. But this practice appears to have lapsed in more recent years." With the citation inserted at the end of the first sentence and the whole item put at the end of the Origins section.MidlandLinda (talk) 12:21, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

That's good, but maybe a more specific note attached to give it context/due weight, something along the lines 'A study in the 1950s by folklorists Iona and Peter Opie, found that in the UK and other countries whose..." etc. (Just as an example).Number36 (talk) 13:26, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

OK, let's go with that and see what happens.MidlandLinda (talk) 14:27, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

List o jokes

What happened to all the jokes? 71.178.117.152 (talk) 02:19, 29 March 2012 (UTC)

• What jokes? 71.178.133.16 (talk) 17:46, 28 April 2012 (UTC)
  • Unfortunately some deletion happy admins keep nuking the yearly lists of jokes. shogun (talk) 15:45, 1 April 2013 (UTC)

Exception for 1 April

On 1 April and 1 April only, we should allow almost any kind of silly edit in this article. Before the end of 1 April, it should be restored to the serious version. However, no other article should be allowed to be messed with as an April Fools' joke. Auchansa (talk) 03:53, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

There are many things, so I hope you need to discuss before making such edits.

• RfA
• another RfA discussion
• User:Jimbo Wales

Shriram (talk) 04:00, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

You may undo my edit. In fact, I am bothered that it is still there because I generally act very responsibly. Auchansa (talk) 04:08, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

After a few minutes, not even 5, I undid my own edit. I have no sense of humor, just a sense of responsibility.  :( Auchansa (talk) 03:53, 2 April 2012 (UTC)

I am nt sure about undoing it, someother user will have a look. This may be useful for users like you! Wikipedia April Fools' Day 2012. Have a look. Shriram (talk) 13:35, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

In my defense, I find April Fool's Day childish and immature because several people are too old to be playing pranks on each other. (I know that for a fact.) Likely Ally (talk) 14:39, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

How can you know that for a fact, "too old to be playing pranks on each other" is a personal judgment. Even people who agree with you on the sentiment could differ wildly on their opinions as to how old is too old. I (and many others) would counter that you are never too old to have a little fun. Remember, growing older is required, growing up is optional. --Khajidha (talk) 18:59, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

Insipid pranks EL

70.66.196.240 insists on adding this EL to the article. In my opinion, it does not belong per WP:ELNO: it is a link to a blog and does not provide a unique resource beyond what the article would contain if it became a featured article. The pranks featured are about as insipid as it get. However, I'm up against WP:3RR.  --Lambiam 22:07, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

• I'm up against WP:3RR too, if anyone else wants to keep an eye on it. Trivialist (talk) 23:08, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

This part about France and Italy should be moved into another section

This part should be moved to another section, perhaps concerning how people celebrate around the world. The paragraph after concerning Chaucer should be moved up.

"In France and Italy, children and adults traditionally tack paper fish on each other's back as a trick and shout "april fish!" in their local language ("poisson d'avril!" and "pesce d'aprile!" in French and Italian respectively)." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.253.35.105 (talk) 05:57, 2 April 2012 (UTC)

Wikipedia on April 1

Where is the current list for submissions for 'main page curiosities for the day'? Jackiespeel (talk) 18:04, 13 June 2012 (UTC)

I've never heard of this. 71.191.110.49 (talk) 15:05, 14 October 2012 (UTC)

"April Fool(s)!"

I find it odd that this article doesn't mention the part of the process where after the prank is enacted/discovered, the pranker shouts 'April Fool(s)!'. Is that not a common thing? Maybe it's not mentioned because it's only regional or something, but to me it seems like a pretty important part of the tradition.

Also, I'm very surprised there isn't a list of 'notable April Fools Pranks'. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Aryst0krat (talk • contribs) 04:20, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

New Photo

Is there a way we can try to get a new photo?

That photo is from 2001 on the main Article page. There has to be some kind of prank just like it newer. Deunick (talk) 04:59, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

I don't see how a more recent photo would illustrate the concept any more clearly. --McGeddon (talk) 13:25, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Which countries?

The first sentence says "April Fools' Day is celebrated in many countries on April 1 every year". It should be clarified which countries celebrate it. Since the article is locked now I can't add the "which?" template to that sentence. The Spanish version of the article contains a list of some (all?) countries that celebrate it. Btw, Spain doesn't celebrate it on April 1st, but Dec 28th. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents#Feast_days. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.108.163.221 (talk) 14:17, 1 April 2013 (UTC)