So how do people really feel about April Fools’ Day pranks?
Seems there’s a pretty equal divide between people who find them annoying and people who find them amusing.
According to a YouGov poll, 45% of respondents found them amusing and 47% said they were annoying. Those under the age of 30 were more likely to find pranks funny – 50% liked them vs. 40% who found them annoying. And men under 30 were the most likely to appreciate April Fools' Day jokes -- with 60% saying they were amusing vs. 35% who found them irritating.
Top April Fool's Pranks
The Museum of Hoaxes website ranks the greatest April Fool’s Day Pranks.
Number one is April Fools Day 1957 That's when the BBC fooled listeners into believing spaghetti grew on trees.
Another classic is the 1962 Swedish Color TV Hoax. An engineer with the country's lone TV station, which broadcast in black and white at the time, told viewers they could see the programming in color if they would pull nylon stockings over their sets.
Taco Bell struck April Fool's gold in 1996 when the fast-food chain announced it was buying the Liberty Bell and changing its name to the Taco Liberty Bell.
Of course, politics aren't off limits for April Fool's Day pranks. In 2011, the National Republican Senatorial Committee released a parody ad that called President Obama the greatest president ever, and one who fulfilled all his promises. It ended with a picture of Obama riding a flying unicorn that had a rainbow coming out of its backside.
Then again, there are times when people do very serious things on April 1st. Google announce Gmail to the public on April Fool's Day in 2004. Apple was founded on April 1st of 1976.