02 April 2012 / by Radmila Gurkova

April Fools' Day - Is it a big joke?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSZ_fV3fmXk

April the 1st is well known in America, the United Kingdom and other Christian countries – as April Fools' Day.

The history of this day began in the 16th Century with Pope Gregory when he introduced a new calendar where the New Year fell on January 1st. Some people didn’t believe in this change and continued to celebrate New Years Day on April 1st.  Others played tricks on them for doing this and called them “April Fools” and sent them on “Fools Errands”.

The tradition now is that on the morning of April 1st the prankster devises a practical joke to play on their victim. The joke has to be performed before 12.00 noon on that day.

However some weird and wonderful jokes in the UK and the US have been executed throughout the day and even up until the evening news.

There have been many individual and larger jokes played on people, groups and even countries.

Spain celebrates a similar day to this with - el Día de los Santos Inocentes on December 28, however when the prankster reveals the joke they shout ''¡Inocente, inocente!''. You must have all done this at some point?

DEBATE



  • How many jokes do you know?

  • Do you tell any good jokes at parties?

  • Is April Fool's Day taken seriously?


KEYWORDS




































































Word Image Definition Example Listen
Errand A short and quick trip to accomplish a specific purpose He finished his errands. Listen
Fool The person who has been victim to a prank or hoax I can believe he fell for that, he is such a fool. Listen
Joke Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement He told a very funny joke that made us laugh Listen
Prankster   The person who plays a trick on an unsuspecting victim We fell for a pranksters joke Listen
Laugh The sound made after a humorous event He has a funny laugh Listen
Practical Concerned with actual use or practice; A practical application of a rule. Listen
Tricked An optical illusion It must have been some visual trick caused by the flickering candlelight. Listen
True Correct I don't think it is true! Listen

Watch Mickey's April Fool's joke...

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LcWUknPss4&feature=related

GRAMMAR STRUCTURES

Click here for the Simple Past Tense

Click here for the Imperative

19

October 2011
Current News - Republican Presidential Debate
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl-Ppk6oN0s "The near-weekly ritual of Republican presidential debates took a raucous turn Tuesday night as the unsettled field of candidates ganged up on one another in a series of attacks more intense and personal than any in their previous appearances together." "The first to feel the assault wa...

17

October 2011
Current News - Spain's Duchess of Alba ties the knot for the third time at 85!
by Radmila Gurkova
The Duchess of Alba, one of Spain's richest and most flamboyant women, has got married again at the age of 85 to a civil servant 24 years her junior.  However it hasn't been easy for her, as she is reportedly giving away her personal fortune in order to do so. httpv://youtu.be/k31NvQJfqao...

14

October 2011
Friday Meeting 14.10.2011
by Radmila Gurkova
How can we teach vocab activities?  What is the best way to teach vocabulary? Before speaking of vocabulary activities it is imperative that we distinguish between a Topic and a Vocab activity. A topic activity...

13

October 2011
Blackberry's message goes missing
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG39jKi0lI For the makers of the device whose name became synonymous with messaging, it was a deeply embarrassing 36 hours. Untold numbers of Blackberry users, first in Europe then in much of the rest of the world, found that their email either slowed or ground to a halt and the BBM service became unavailabl...

12

October 2011
Oxbridge TEFL - Eddie Izzard on Language...
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU Seeing as today is a holiday we thought it would be good to post a fun video of the comedian Eddie Izzard talking about language. Enjoy... ...

11

October 2011
David Cameron: we will never join the euro...
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8zRxbJQLy8 There have been tough words from the British prime minister at the annual Conservative Party conference, where David Cameron defended his government's economic policies. "The threat to the world economy and to Britain is as serious as in 2008 when world recession loomed. The euro zone is in cr...

10

October 2011
Steve Jobs 1955-2011
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izjtud9qbJ4&feature=youtube_gdata_player RIP Steve Jobs - his ideas and vision brightened millions of lives and the world of technology will be a poorer place without him. Here's to the crazy ones......

10

October 2011
Friday Meeting 07/10/2011
by Radmila Gurkova
A busy start to the month but here's little update for the week. Last week we spoke about the classes at the gym and the new S1 course. Feedback has been generally good in both areas but we there’s still plenty of room for improvement. ...

10

October 2011
Current News - Food Labeling
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f9m0JmCGeE Sell-by dates should be removed from food packaging to help cut waste and save shoppers money, ministers say.  The UK throws away about £12bn of edible food each year and critics say confusing packaging is partly to blame. Read the whole story and watch a video on the BBC News website: ...

10

October 2011
Current News - Are you Healthy!?
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJFrI5srZVI Denmark has introduced what is believed to be the world's first fat tax - a surcharge on foods that are high in saturated fat. Some scientists think saturated fat may be the wrong target. Click this link to read more: Denmar...