In 1962, Radio Moscow known for its taciturnity shocked the world by broadcasting that an agreement on disarmament had been signed in Geneva, that Polaris rockets were dumped in Lake Geneva and that an American admiral had drowned himself as he was a major shareholder in the company manufacturing these rockets. In the same year, a Dutch newspaper reported the rare feat of Amsterdam’s zoo of training a monkey to talk with aid of a mechanical device.

The New York Sun reported invention of a new telescope, enabling one to see minutest details on the moon. Earlier in 1938, Orson Welles broadcast an account of an invasion from Mars, creating panic.

In 1980, The Guardian published a four-page supplement which included pictures and maps of a non-existent island headed by General Makebelieve. Many readers failed to notice the name which would have given the game away.

How did the All Fools’ Day originate? It’s difficult to pinpoint it on the calendar.

The word April is derived from the Latin aperire, meaning ‘to open’. The Roman almanac declares this as spring time, ushering in green pastures and colourful blooms. Further, it marks the end of winter.

Interestingly, once the New Year commenced on March 25. Afestival commencing from this day ended on April 1.

In Scotland, fooling is referred to as hunting the gowk i.e. a cuckoo. It’s in April that the gowk lays eggs in the nests of other birds. Scots consider gowk-hunting a useless errand. So one who hunts for gowks is considered a simpleton or a fool. The Scottish celebrate All Fool’s Day for two days. The first day called Taily Day is devoted to jests about one’s posterior.

Greek mythology has it that the beautiful Proserpina, daughter of Goddess Ceres, was forcibly taken away by Pluto, God of Underworld. Ceres went running after her screams but in the wrong direction. Thus her rescue was termed a "fool’s errand", as Ceres kept chasing an echo.

In France in 1564 Charles IX introduced the Georgian calendar which heralded the New Year from January 1 instead of the customary April 1. Many opposed and ridiculed the change, also making frivolous greetings on April 1. Those who accepted the change were dubbed as un poisson d’ Avril. Poisson pertains to a small fish which is easy to catch.

The French do not wish to do anything important on this day. However, Napoleon Bonaparte who married his second wife on April 1, 1810, was immediately nicknamed ‘April Fish’. "When beans are in flower, fools are in full strength" goes a French saying. And French beans flower in April!

It was on April 1 that the captive Duke of Lorraine and his wife disguised themselves to flee from Nantes. A woman recognised them but the guards, refusing to believe her, exclaimed, "April fool!"

In Germany, the day is called Aprilnarr. The eighteenth century saw the popularity of this custom in England. Lamb penned a delightful piece on it, while Addison wrote about it disdainfully.

Some opine that Noah was the first April fool. For, he made the mistake of sending a dove out of the ark before the flood had abated on the first day of Hebrew calendar, which coincidentally falls on April 1. The day also relates to the crucifixion burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in April. At that time, those who failed to imbibe His wisdom, were dubbed as fools.