April 1st is April Fool’s Day, International Fun at Work Day, International Bird Day (Ornithologist’s Day), Edible Book Day, and Action Against Sexual Violence Day. Also, this day went down in history as the date of numerous memorable events that changed the course of politics, science, culture and the struggle for rights.
April Fool’s Day
This is one of the few holidays when official seriousness gives way to fun, pranks and jokes. On this day, it is customary to joke with friends, colleagues, relatives, and sometimes even with entire audiences — television viewers or newspaper readers. According to tradition, if a person believed in a fiction, they say: «April! April!»
The exact origin of the holiday remains a mystery. It is believed that the beginning of Fool’s Day was given by Emperor Constantine, after his court jester declared that he could rule the empire no worse than the ruler himself. Konstantin liked the idea so much that he allowed the jester to reign — but only once a year, on April 1. It would be the same for us: the clown is only on April 1!
Another popular theory of the origin of Fool’s Day is related to the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria. It was celebrated at the end of March or the beginning of April in honor of Cybele, the mother of the gods and all living things. One of the main entertainments were masquerades: if you didn’t recognize someone you knew in a costume, you were considered an April fool.
There is also a version related to the Edict of Roussillon, a decree of the French king Charles IX from 1564. Before that, the New Year was celebrated in the spring — usually on Easter, which fell on different dates in March-April every year. With the new law, the ruler announced that the year will start on January 1 from now on. But after the edict was issued, some French people continued to celebrate the New Year in the spring: some did not want to betray traditions, and some simply did not follow the news. Such people began to be called «April fools» — they met the year three months later than the rest of the country, and they were teased for this.
The first written mention of the holiday dates back to 1686, when the English writer John Aubrey mentioned the «Fool’s Day», talking about the French tradition of the «April Fish», the main essence of which is to silently attach a paper fish to someone’s back. Ten years later, a few Londoners decided to play a joke by luring the crowd to a «lion washing» in the Tower — there was no such thing, but people did come.
The most interesting thing is that even though the holiday is not official, every year it is willingly supported even by the media, large corporations and politicians. There have been cases where reputable publications published fake news or companies launched fake products, causing a wave of surprise and then laughter.
Despite the general atmosphere of fun, the line between a good joke and an insult is thin. That is why the real art of April 1 is to make a joke so that everyone laughs and is not offended. Ideally, the giveaway should be innocuous, witty, and easily revealed.
Interesting facts
In 1957, the British BBC TV channel showed a story about the «spaghetti harvest», where farmers «harvested» pasta from trees. Thousands of viewers believed the joke and called to find out how to grow such a tree.
In 1985, Sports Illustrated magazine published a story about a baseball player named Sid Finch, who threw the ball at over 170 mph. The story turned out to be fiction, but even professionals believed it.
In 2015, Google launched a humorous «Mic Drop» feature in Gmail that allowed you to end any email with an animation of a Minion dropping a microphone. But due to numerous complaints, the function was quickly removed.
In France, children try to fool themselves on April 1 by attaching a paper «April Fool» to their backs. This is a national tradition that dates back to the 16th century.
In Finland and Sweden, newspapers traditionally publish one joke on April 1, and readers compete to be the first to expose it.
International day of fun at work
This holiday was started in 1996 by two enthusiasts from the USA — office consultant David Heinemann and humorist Jessica Cole — who wanted to change the attitude to work as a routine and exhausting process. Their idea was simple: work should not only be a duty, but also a source of joy, energy and human connection.
The holiday quickly gained popularity in the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Australia, and later in many European countries. Nowadays, this day is an opportunity to remember that even in the most serious field there is a place for a smile, and a sense of humor can be as important an element of corporate culture as professionalism or discipline.
The International Day of Fun at Work is designed to break the stereotype of the office as a place of constant stress. On this day, employees are allowed to joke, hold entertaining flash mobs, reincarnate, share funny stories, and arrange informal meetings. But the point is not only in jokes, but in showing that a good mood increases productivity, improves team interaction and promotes mental health.
Psychologists have repeatedly confirmed that employees who feel emotional comfort and can freely express positive emotions work more efficiently, generate creative ideas more often and burn out less.
Interesting facts
This holiday is informal, but it is celebrated even by large corporations. At Google, Amazon, IBM and other giants on this day, costume office parades, board game rooms, stand-up comedy and impromptu «table parties» are organized.
Companies that regularly use humor at work have lower employee turnover. According to the Harvard Business Review, teams where leaders allow laughter and lightness have a 20% lower burnout rate.
One of the most popular draws on this day is the «change of the boss». Employees prepare a fun intrigue in advance, where someone from the team «becomes the boss» for the day and manages with a smile and humor.
The largest «fun day» was recorded in Japan in 2017. Fujitsu held simultaneous raffles in 23 offices across the country with the participation of 18,000 employees. In the final, they all received a box of cakes in the shape of their bosses.
Ukrainian IT companies are also joining. For example, the Lviv and Kyiv offices of several development studios organize themed days every year — with a superhero dress code, office quests, and an office stand-up contest.
In 2020, when most people were working from home, this day took on a new meaning. The fun moved to Zoom: quizzes were held, «office parties» with pets, a contest for the funniest work background picture — humor survived even in quarantine.
International Bird Day (Ornithologist’s Day)
It was on this day in 1906 that the International Convention for the Protection of Birds was signed, which symbolically gave rise to the global movement for the preservation of birds. It is an unofficial but important ecological holiday that reminds us of the fragility of the natural balance, the importance of birds in ecosystems and the responsibility of humans to preserve biodiversity. It is also popularly called Ornithologist’s Day — in honor of those who have devoted their lives to the study of birds.
Birds are not only the beauty and music of nature, but also key participants in ecological processes: they regulate the number of insects, spread seeds, help in pollination, and serve as indicators of the state of the environment. The extinction of even one species can destroy an entire chain.
Ukraine is one of the countries where this holiday is particularly relevant. A huge number of migratory birds pass through the territory of the state every year, and the Black Sea-Azov region is part of one of the largest migration routes in Eurasia. In the Carpathians, in Polissia, in the steppes and even in cities, you can see dozens of species of birds. But the growth of urbanization, the chemicalization of agriculture, deforestation and draining of swamps create more and more threats to the bird world.
April 1 is not only an occasion to admire the singing of birds or to remember a beloved little girl. This is a call to protect birds, create feeders, plant trees, do not destroy nests, support nature conservation initiatives and change attitudes towards nature. Ornithologist’s Day is also a celebration of scientists who study the behavior, habitats and biology of birds, conduct observations, save rare species and tell the public why the disappearance of even a small bird is a big problem.
Interesting facts
More than 430 species of birds have been recorded in Ukraine, but more than 90 of them are under threat of extinction. More than 80 species are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
The smallest bird in the world is the Cuban bee hummingbird, its length is only 5.5 cm. The largest is the African ostrich, height up to 2.7 m, weight — up to 150 kg.
Ornithologists know more than 10,000 species of birds, but new ones are discovered every year. In the 21st century, more than 100 new species have already been recorded, in particular in Papua New Guinea, the Amazon, and the Philippines.
Birds navigate by stars, magnetic field and smells. During migrations, some species, for example, shepherds or flycatchers, are able to recognize the position of the constellations and use them as a GPS. And also — they feel the Earth’s magnetic field thanks to special cells in the retina of the eye.
Starlings can imitate human speech. One of the best «copycats» is the common starling, which can be seen in Ukraine. In captivity or around people, he easily imitates cell phone calls, barking dogs and even phrases from the TV.
Cuckoo is a champion of deception. She lays eggs in the nests of other birds and precisely selects the color, size and even spots on the shell so as not to arouse suspicion. And her chick, having just hatched, throws other chicks out of the nest — she does not tolerate competition.
Some species of waders and martins cover more than 10 thousand kilometers without a single landing. For example, a bartail partridge flies non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand — 11 consecutive days in the sky.
During the courtship season, a male great tundra swan is capable of producing up to 10,000 different variations of the same motif — a kind of «serenade» — every day. His partner recognizes him by his intonations, as if by his voice.
Crows are not just birds, but geniuses. They are able to plan actions several steps ahead, store «tools», recognize people’s faces, take revenge on wrongdoers and play for fun — not for profit.
Birds «sleep» in the air. Frigates and swifts can fly without landing for up to six months. During long flights, their brain goes into «unilateral sleep»: one hemisphere sleeps, the other continues to control the flight.
The nightingale is not the loudest bird. The loudest is the white-headed bell (from tropical South America), its song has a volume of more than 125 decibels — it is like a jet engine from a distance of 30 meters. A person nearby may lose hearing.
Pink pelicans nest on the Black Sea coast of Ukraine. These are the largest birds in Europe with a wingspan of over 3 meters. They are often confused with «overseas» species, although they live just next door — in the Danube Biosphere Reserve.
Edible book day
Edible Book Day is one of the most unusual literary holidays in the world. The holiday was started in 2000 by American artist Beatrice Coron and curator of book art projects Judith Hoffberg. They combined their love of books, art and cooking — and came up with an event where you can not only read books, but also eat them.
The concept of the holiday is very simple and at the same time ingenious: create an «edible book» — a dish or dessert that visually resembles a book, characters, plot or cover of a favorite work. The main rule is that the book must be truly edible, and after the exhibition or photo shoot it will be eaten. In this way, the idea of book culture gets a literal embodiment — «food for the mind» becomes food in reality.
On this day, an international edible book festival takes place, which has spread all over the world — from libraries in Paris to universities in Toronto, art galleries in Tokyo and small school classrooms in Latin America. Participants compete in creativity: someone bakes gingerbread «Alice in Wonderland», someone lays out a chocolate «Bible», and someone creates surreal compositions of jelly, pumpkin and cakes in the form of Hemingway or Salinger covers.
The holiday has not only an aesthetic and entertaining, but also a deeply cultural function — it unites people around the book. Libraries, museums, literary clubs and cooking schools use this day to interest children in reading, revive interest in the classics, and show literature as a source of inspiration and taste — literally.
Interesting facts
The first official festival was held in 2000 in California, where about 50 edible books were presented, among them a cake in the form of «Moby Dick» with a chocolate whale diving into creamy «water».
In France, the holiday received a special resonance. There, he was joined by famous chefs who create edible art installations based on the works of Camus, Balzac or Proust. In Lyon, there is a separate gastronomic studio that holds an annual workshop on creating «novels on cakes».
The University of Toronto organizes a competition every year, where the winner receives the title of «Chef de Book». In 2022, the winner was a student who created a scene from «Harry Potter» with pasta and colored sauces — with an edible Hogwarts and a chocolate platform 9¾.
In 2015, a library in Australia held an «anti-festival» — «The Inedible Book», where participants served works that literally «cannot be swallowed» — that is, the most terrible books in their opinion, in the form of tasteless or spoiled food.
In 2020, during the pandemic, participants from around the world joined online and posted photos of their edible books with the hashtag #EdibleBookDay. It was one of the largest virtual literary and culinary flash mobs in the world.
In Ukraine, the event began to be actively supported since the 2010s. For example, in Kharkiv and Kyiv it was held in libraries, and in Lviv — within the book forum. Popular forms include cover cakes, quote cookies, edible scrolls, and even «Kobzar» lard.
Day of action against sexual violence
The Day of Action Against Sexual Violence is an important day of civic solidarity when the world speaks out about what is too often silenced. Its goal is to draw attention to the problem of sexual violence, support victims, break taboos and achieve systemic changes in legislation, culture and social practices. In different countries, this event falls on different dates, but at the heart is always the idea of active actions: from protests and demonstrations to educational campaigns, changes in the judicial system and ensuring real access to help.
Sexual violence is one of the least documented but most common forms of violence in the world. According to UN estimates, every third woman on the planet has experienced sexual or gender-based violence at least once in her life. The number is impressive. But what’s even worse is that most cases never go to the police. Victims often remain silent due to fear, shame, pressure from family or society, and mistrust of the justice system.
On the Day of Action Against Sexual Violence, actions are held around the world under the slogans «I’m not guilty», «I believe you», «My body is my business». People take to the streets with posters, share their stories on social networks, hold round tables, art installations, and theater performances. In some countries, the results of investigations or statistics are announced on this day, and new hotlines and support services are launched.
The Day of Action has a special significance in the conditions of war, when sexual violence often becomes a weapon — a way of humiliation, destruction of dignity, destruction of the psyche. In Ukraine, this topic became painfully acute after 2022: sexual violence committed by the Russian military became part of the documented war crimes. That is why the Day of Action is not just a date on the calendar, but a cry for justice, memory and responsibility.
Interesting facts
Less than 10% of victims of sexual violence contact the police. And an even smaller part receives a fair sentence for the offender. The main reason is fear, stigma, distrust of law enforcement officers.
More than 200 cases of sexual violence perpetrated by the Russian military were documented in Ukraine in 2022-2023 alone, but the real numbers are many times higher. This is recognized by both Ukrainian human rights defenders and international investigators.
International law recognizes sexual violence as a war crime and a crime against humanity. It was first enshrined in 2000 in UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
In many countries there is a «culture of consent». It is a concept that teaches that any physical contact must be voluntary, conscious, and mutual. Consent is not silence, not coercion, not «she herself is to blame», but a clear «yes».
In 2023, the European Parliament supported the initiative to recognize sexual violence as a crime at the level of the entire EU — regardless of the laws of individual countries. This may become a turning point in European jurisprudence.
Historical events on this day
527 — On this day, Emperor Justinian I, who will later go down in history as one of the greatest rulers of the Byzantine Empire, began his reign.
1579 — The King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Stefan Batory founded the Vilnius Academy, the first higher education institution in the Baltic region, which would later become Vilnius University.
1889 — A dishwasher invented by Josephine Cochrane went on sale for the first time in Chicago. It became a breakthrough in household appliances.
1890 — Charles van Depole, a Belgian by origin, received a patent for the world’s first trolleybus in the United States.
1906 — An international convention on the protection of birds was signed in Paris, which became the basis for starting the International Bird Day, which is celebrated to this day.
1917 — In Kyiv, a grandiose manifestation called the Feast of Freedom took place — one of the most massive actions of national uplift of the era of the Ukrainian revolution (date according to the new style).
1918 — In Great Britain, the Royal Air Force — RAF was officially established, which to this day remains one of the strongest aviation structures in the world.
1919 — The Askania-Nova Nature Reserve received the status of a national park. Its nature conservation value was established in the 19th century by Friedrich Falz-Fein.
1924 — In Germany, Adolf Hitler was sentenced for the attempted armed coup — the so-called Beer Putsch. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
1933 — The Nazis staged a boycott of Jewish shops and firms in Germany, using the thesis of a «world Jewish conspiracy» as a pretext for mass discrimination.
1937 — Burma (now Myanmar) was officially separated from India and became a separate British colony.
1939 — After the capitulation of the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, General Franco declared complete victory and established his dictatorship.
1946 — Singapore acquired the status of a British crown colony, and the Malayan Union was formed on the territory of present-day Malaysia.
1976 — Two young enthusiasts, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, founded the Apple company, which would later change the perception of computer technology.
1979 — A referendum was held in Iran, following the results of which Ayatollah Khomeini declared the country an Islamic republic.
1981 — In the Soviet Union, the transition to summer time was introduced for the first time — to save electricity in the dark months.
1999 — The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia entered into force. Formally, it operated until 2019.
2001 — The Netherlands became the first country in the world to officially allow same-sex marriages.
2002 — The following year, the Netherlands took another step in the field of human rights — they legalized euthanasia.
2009 — Two new countries — Albania and Croatia — joined NATO, completing the long process of accession.
2016 — Azerbaijan’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh began — the events that lasted four days went down in history as the «four-day war».
2022 — The armed forces of Ukraine liberated the Kyiv region from the Russian occupation forces. This became one of the key turning points at the beginning of a full-scale war.
