April Fools' Day over the decades: Five pranks that made headlines

April Fools' Day, observed each year on April 1st, is a time-honoured tradition filled with playful pranks and clever hoaxes that have delighted and intrigued people for generations.

As the calendar flips to April, anticipation builds for the elaborate and often absurd antics that will unfold. Let's explore some of the most memorable April Fools' Day pranks from the past few decades:

The Spaghetti Tree Hoax (1957):

In what is perhaps one of the most famous April Fools' Day pranks of all time, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a segment on its Panorama program claiming that Swiss farmers were enjoying a bountiful spaghetti harvest. The footage depicted people plucking strands of spaghetti from trees, leading many viewers to believe that spaghetti actually grew on trees.

In a clever marketing ploy, Burger King took out a full-page advertisement in USA Today announcing the launch of their new "Left-Handed Whopper." The advertisement claimed that the condiments in the burger were rotated 180 degrees to better suit left-handed individuals. The announcement sparked a frenzy, with many left-handed customers excitedly ordering the new burger. However, it was soon revealed to be a hoax, much to the amusement of the public.

image courtesy of Burger King Fiji

The Taco Liberty Bell (1996):

In a prank that blurred the lines between corporate marketing and April Fools' mischief, Taco Bell took out advertisements in several major newspapers, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, announcing that they had purchased the historic Liberty Bell and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell." The announcement caused a stir, with outraged citizens flooding the National Park Service with inquiries. Eventually, Taco Bell revealed that it was all a joke, but not before generating widespread publicity.

Image courtesy of The New York Times archives

Google Nose (2013):

In 2013, Google introduced "Google Nose," a fictitious feature that purported to allow users to search for smells through their computers or mobile devices. The prank included a mock-up interface and humorous descriptions of various scents. While obviously a joke, many users were momentarily intrigued by the possibility of digitally sniffing out their favorite aromas.

Jordanian newspaper Al-Ghad's front page piece said the giant aliens had arrived on flying saucers lighting up the Jordanian desert town of Jafr, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) east of Amman. The newspaper claimed that communication networks went down and frightened townspeople fled into the streets. The mayor, Mohammed Mleihan, said parents were so frightened they did not send their children to school that day.