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| Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark, Lesson 12 - April Fools' Day |
| Hello and welcome to the Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark Series at DanishClass101.com. |
| In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Danish holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 12, April Fools' Day. In Danish, it’s called første april. |
| No one quite feels safe from pranking on April 1st. The question is, who has more fun, the pranker or the person being pranked? |
| For those scheming the best prank yet, pranksters have a full year to execute the perfect plan. |
| In this lesson, you'll learn more about how the Danish prank each other on April Fool's Day. |
| Now, before we go into more detail, do you know the answer to this question: |
| Which pranks did they play in the 17th century, when Aprils Fools’ Day came to Denmark? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Over the years, pranksters have become more sophisticated in their scheming, and "pranks," or narrestreger, are more elaborate than ever. The closer you are to a friend, the more you should be watching your back come April 1st. The Internet has given pranksters an even a greater chance to research and then hatch the perfect prank. |
| There are also more innocent pranks, such as "fake parking tickets," falske parkeringsbøder, or "food coloring," madkulør, in your milk. |
| Since the beginning of the 1990s, the mass media has traditionally published "fake stories," or falske historier, on April Fool's Day to play a prank on viewers. People often have mixed feelings about whether these fake news stories are innocent fun or cause distrust in the news. |
| The stories often involve animals, climate, or societal matters. For example, in one prank segment, it was reported that a shark had been released in the Kattegat Center because of an issue with the tank drain. In another year, a metro train had reportedly derailed onto City Hall Square in Copenhagen. |
| There are actually two prank days during the year. You can also be pranked on May 1st, for majkat. The name originates from an old superstition that a May cat has a bad vision. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question: |
| Which pranks did they play in the 17th century, when Aprils Fools’ Day came to Denmark? |
| People sent each other out to do errands that were impossible to complete. For instance, an apprentice was given the task to find non-existent tools by their supervisors. Even today, there are some victims that fall for the prank. |
| How did you like this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| How do you celebrate April Fools' Day in your country? |
| Leave us a comment telling us at DanishClass101.com! |
| And I’ll see you in the next lesson! |
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