April Fool’s Day: What it means, pranks to use in a day of mischief

Today, April 1, 2025, the world awakens to the gleeful chaos of April Fool’s Day, a tradition from centuries of playful deception. While its origins remain murky, some trace it to 16th-century France when the calendar shifted, leaving “fools” celebrating the New Year in spring with a universal essence: a day to embrace lighthearted trickery. In Nigeria, where jokes often softens life’s edges, April Fool’s has found a home, from neighborhood jests to social media banters. As families, friends, and coworkers gear up for a day of laughs, here’s a roundup of pranks you can pull to join the fun.

Pranks to Play on April Fool’s Day

Alarm clock switch

Even though it is late, you could still try it for those who usually wake up late and sleep a lot. Sneak into a sibling’s room and set their alarm clock two hours early. Their groggy confusion at waking up to a silent dawn will be comedy gold.

Salted tea surprise

Replace the sugar in your colleague’s tea with salt. Sip your own brew innocently as they grimace at the unexpected twist.

The invisible chair

Move a chair slightly when someone’s about to sit, leaving them flailing mid-air. Bonus points if you catch their startled yelp on video.

Fake delivery call

Phone a friend pretending to be a delivery agent with an outrageous package—like “50 live chickens” or “a talking parrot”—and insist they come claim it now.

Toothpaste for Oreos

Replace the cream in a few Oreo cookies with white toothpaste. Offer them casually to a snack-loving pal and enjoy their minty shock. This could be good for friends who do not like to take care of their dental region.

Wrong name game

Call your partner or friend by a completely different name all morning—“Hey, Tunde” instead of “Chinedu” and act like you making mistakes when they correct you.

The endless call

Text a friend, “Call me, it’s urgent!” When they do, say, “Wait, I’ll call you back,” hang up, and repeat. Their growing exasperation will crown you prank king.

False electricity announcement

Typical Nigerian setting usually suffer from poor electricity supply so doing a fake announcement of light when there is none is the grandest prank you can play on your neighbor most especially when they are desperate for electricity.

A day to bond through banter

Across Nigeria today, from Lagos’ bustling markets to Abuja’s quiet offices, April Fool’s day connects people with joy through daily routines. Whether it is a child giggling over a fake spider or a boss chuckling at a swapped sign, these pranks remind us to pause and play. So, grab your props, be it salt for sugar or a fake call and dive into the mischief. Just do not be surprised if someone does the same to you; after all, on April 1, everyone’s fair game!

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