Pranks not as common as before

Molly Reese
Staff Writer
April 1, 2004, Page 3

Saran wrapped toilet seats, buckets of goo over doorways, and whipped cream in the hands of sleeping roommates. It must be April Fools’ Day.
This holiday has been known to invite pranks and silliness of all kinds.
However, some may argue it is not celebrated much anymore.
“I think it’s a dying holiday,” junior Suzanna Buerge said. “My mom told me about pranks they did in college. But I’ve never heard of anything done lately.”
The antics Buerge described often involved the library. Her uncle once led a cow up to the third floor. Another year he and several others decided to brick up the entrance. He also hoisted a sports car into the library with the help of ten strong friends. Buerge’s aunt also honored the holiday by stealing all the silverware from the cafeteria.
April Fools’ stories often come from when we were younger, senior Malia Mann said. Senior Anne Golden remembers when her teachers switched classrooms for half a day in elementary school.
Historically, the concept behind April Fools’ day is to literally make a fool of someone. As stated in Chase’s Calendar of Events, you must “betray someone into a supposed ludicrous situation so as to enable you to call them an April Fool.”
April Fools’ Day began in France in 1564, and was originally called All Fools’ Day. According to the Chase article, April 1st used to be New Year’s Day but was changed to January 1st that year.
“People who insisted on celebrating the ‘old’ New Year became known as April Fools, and it became common to play jokes and tricks on them,” it states.
Though April Fools pranks seem to be decreasing, the tricks of the past will be remembered.
“I’ve never had anything done,” Buerge said.
Mann agreed.
“I think it would be cool,” Mann said. “Pranks are fun.”