In English

Första april

1 april - Dagen när man får luras
Den första april ska man försöka lura sina vänner och sin familj, tidningarna har också speciella aprilskämt. Om man lyckas lura någon, brukar man säga: "April, april, din dumma sill, jag kan lura dig vart jag vill."
Första april gäller det att vara på sin vakt! När du lyssnar på radion, läser tidningen eller ser på TV. För du kan bli lurad! Det har blivit vanligt att infoga någon form av falsk nyhet bland de i övrigt allvarliga programmen i avsikten att försöka få lyssnaren, läsaren, tittaren att bli lurad.
Häromåret hade t.ex. den lokala tidningen en blänkare att restaurangen vid hembygdsgården öppnade för säsongen och bjöd på lunch. Men den som sökte sig dit möttes av skylten:"April, april"
En göteborgstidning hade 2003 en artikel om att den som har utträtt ur svenska kyrkan kan inte fordra att få ledigt på sön- och helgdagar.
Första april 2004 kunde man läsa i Dagens Industri att statsminister Göran Persson är beredd att avskaffa förmögenhetsskatten. Detta kan finanseras genom att företagen får betala en kaffeskatt på 15 öre per kopp som serveras från automat.
I Radio Gävleborg berättades om den nya telefonväxeln Telefon Direkt med kortnumret 123 som skulle göra kontakten med myndigheterna enklare. Den nya telefonväxeln skulle lokaliseras till Kårböle - mitt i Sverige - och ge orten 30 nya arbetstillfällen.
Östgöta Correspondenten skriver att krånglet med att byta däck snart kan vara ett minne blott. Forskare har tagit fram ett särskilt "tjejdäck" där det räcker med en enkel knapptryckning för att dubbarna ska dras in och däcken förvandlas till sommardäck.
Arbetarbladet i Gävle skriver om flyttrea på Systembolaget. I samband med att en systembutik på orten flyttas kommer flera varor att säljas för halva priset. Flera prisexempel på viner och maltwhisky ges i artikeln som tipsar läsarna om att det gäller att snabbt vara på plats i butiken för att hinna köpa billigare alkohol, innan det blir utplockat.
Organisationen Livsmedelssverige berättar att forskare med hjälp av genmanipulation kunnat märka grönsaker och frukt utan etiketter. Gentekniken gör att man kan framkalla en text direkt på växten. Direkt på gurkan skulle det kunna stå "Ekologiskt odlat för COOP". Än så länge måste man använda förstoringsglas om man vill läsa direkt på rågflingorna, säger en person vid EU:s nya livsmedelsmyndighet.

Det mest kända svenska aprilskämtet var på den tiden då det var vanligast med svart-vit TV. Tekniskt magasin hade ett inslag att om man trädde en nylonstrumpa över apparaten blev det färg. Det var många som gick i fällan.

April Fool

We are very eager to observe the first day of April here in Sweden. We just say "första april" (first of April). Reading the newspapers and listening to radio and watch TV that day we have to be observant. . .

April fool jokes can be in the news -- There is a saying "April, april, din dumma sill, jag kan lura dig vart jag vill" that is "April, April, you silly fool, I can cheat you where I like" which is said when you manage to cheat someone. Children like to make jokes for their parents, school children to cheat their teacher, etc. A common joke in the family can be e.g. to put salt in the sugar bowl or say someone you have got a spot on the back of your trousers.
Posted by BadPoP at 01-04-2004 13:24 - 17 comments
IKEA, a company with stores all around the world has decided to launch their new series of furniture designed for gamers.
IKEAs goal is to take gaming experience to a higher level with products such as the ergonomic chair "NewmaN" or the footstool "BadPoP" hurting backs is no more. The new computerdesk "ireaper" fits like a glove for one or more computers, on it you can place the stylish lamp "RaideN" or why not the CD-Holder "Totti".
If you suffer from garbage in your enviroment, the wastepaper basket "Thrasher" is the only choice for a true gamer.


Last year (2003) they had an article in the local paper that the trains were now allowed to cross the bridge over the river with people in. So people had to go out of the train and cross the river on the bridge by foot . . They had a photo of that too . . .
The most wellknown joke in TV was many years ago at the time when most TV sets just gave black-and-white and the technical magazine sent a feature that they had invented a way to see the colours by putting a thin dark nylon hose over your face and look through that. There should have been very many who tried that and were cheated!

When I was a child children cheated even on the last day of April in the area of Stockholm. The saying was "Maj, maj, måne, jag kan lura dig ända till Skåne" - (May, May, moon, I can cheat you even to Scania) - Scania is the southmost county of Sweden. My father taught us that one and he had used it when he was a child in the beginning of the 20th century.

Why April? When a child I was told that it is because the weather of April is so changing and you are easily taken in how to dress or how to plan your day - but there of course are many better explanations.
Internet gives you the information that the origin of the April cheat custom is unknown. In Sweden the historians think that it has it's origin in the rural spring celebrations with funny dancing and playing. Each country has had it's own popular way to celebrate spring.

A very complete site about the different origins of April Fool's Day including Saturnalia

What is the Origin of April Fool's Day ? This holiday is also known as "All Fool's Day". "April Fool's Day seems to have begun in France in 1564. Apr 1 used to be New Year's day but the New Year was changed to Jan 1 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."

April Fool's Day or, more correctly, All Fools' Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is celebrated by the execution of hoaxes and practical jokes of varying sophistication with the goal of publicly embarrassing the gullible.

History Some sources say that the special meaning of April 1 originates in the French change to the Gregorian calendar ordered by King Charles IX of France in 1582. Before that, New Year was celebrated from March 25 to April 1. With the change of the calendar system, New Year was "moved" to January 1. People who forgot or didn't accept the new date system were given invitations to nonexistent parties, funny gifts etc. This was known in France as poisson d'avril (April fish).

Hoaxes Some media organisations have either unwittingly or deliberately propagated many hoaxes. Even normally serious news media consider April Fools' Day hoaxes fair game, and spotting them has become an annual pastime. The worldwide spread of the Internet has also assisted the pranksters in their work.

Some links
Annie's April Page
Riddles and jokes