In Western countries, April 1st's "April Fools' Day" means that one can play all kinds of small tricks without having to bear any consequences. A simple "April Fool's joke" will excuse your prank.
This is a day that distinguishes between kind-hearted and hard-hearted people, with the kind-hearted ones making the deceived look foolish. A woman collected business cards she had received from other women over the years and also asked some unsuspecting friends for more. Then, she went to an April Fools' party with a bunch of these cards. She flirted freely with people, implying that spending a night with her would bring "special" pleasures, and then handed each man who wanted to meet again a business card of another woman.
Surely, on this holiday, magic shops also offer many new-style items. For example, cushions that make loud noises when sat on; matches that turn into fireworks when struck; and also warts, fake noses, glasses, beards, and putty for those who want to appear as someone else at a party.
Sometimes, some pranks backfire. An expert wine taster who was proud of his wine knowledge found a corner shop selling cheap wine, took out a bottle of poor-quality "Plank" wine, and on April Fool's Day, he presented it as a gift to a hostess, claiming it was "the fine cuisine of a country bumpkin." As he stood there expecting the hostess to show a look of disgust so he could shout "April Fool," the hostess, too polite to show her disdain for his taste, sincerely thanked him and said the wine was "exactly what she liked," then put it in the refrigerator and enjoyed it during dinner.
More than one prankster has tricked guests into becoming "April Fools" by playing recordings of arguments. Hosts left the living room, pretending to go to the kitchen, where loud quarrels were heard, but actually, two hosts had previously recorded the dramatic argument and were hiding in the living room, able to watch guests' reactions from behind the living room.
A man annually organized an April Fools' lunch for people who shared strange commonalities. One year, he invited three men with different professions and no common interests — because they all had beards. Only when the last course was served did the guests realize why they had been invited. Another year, he invited three red-haired women. The most cruel and longest-lasting of his pranks was a lunch for short people. All the guests were no taller than five feet three inches, and only when the lunch ended and the guests stood up did they realize their commonality.
