April Fools' Day tradition: Why jokes stop at midday
The annual observance of April 1st has specific customs regarding when pranks should conclude.
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From the archive. This story was written up on 29 July 2026 from reporting first published on 1 April 2026, which is the date shown above. We took up the back catalogue of the local titles we read when this site launched, so the events are older than the page.
April Fools' Day, observed each year on April 1st, is a time for playing pranks and telling jokes. A key tradition of the day is that all jesting must conclude by 12pm (midday). Those who persist with pranks into the afternoon are considered to be the 'April Fools' themselves, as it is seen as bad luck to continue after the specified time, according to the British Council.
Historical Roots of the Tradition
The practice of stopping pranks at midday may date back to 1851. A passage in a British journal from that year reportedly stated that anyone playing a trick after noon should be told, "April Fools' gone past, You're the biggest fool at last," as reported by the BBC. This suggests a long-standing convention regarding the timing of such observances.
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Theories on Origin
The exact origins of April Fools' Day are not definitively known, with several theories proposed. One perspective, explained by the BBC, links the tradition to calendar events and the start of new seasons. In Roman times, 'renewal festivals' were celebrated to mark the beginning of a new year or season, during which normal life was suspended, potentially influencing the chaotic nature of April Fools' pranks.
Another theory connects the date to the shifting of the calendar, particularly around the spring equinox. Historically, the start of spring, when planting could begin, was considered the new year. When the new year was officially moved to January, those who continued to observe it in late March might have been subjected to jokes and pranks, thus contributing to the tradition of the 'April Fool'.
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Questions this report answers
+Why do April Fools' jokes have to stop by midday?
The tradition requires all pranks to end by 12pm because anyone still joking after noon is considered the 'April Fool' themselves. This is seen as bad luck, according to the British Council, and breaks the day’s unspoken rules.
+Where did the midday prank deadline come from?
The practice may have started in 1851, as a British journal from that year reportedly warned that pranks after noon made the joker the biggest fool. The BBC reported this historical reference to the tradition.
+What are the possible origins of April Fools' Day?
One theory links it to Roman 'renewal festivals' marking new seasons, when normal life was suspended and chaos allowed. Another ties it to the spring equinox, when planting began and those still celebrating the old new year faced jokes.
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