April Fools

While we Americans may pull innocent little jokes on each other on April Fool’s Day, we have a long way to go before we rival what the whole of Norway does on April 1^st.

Individual pranks in Norway are not very common, but what makes their day trump ours is that their media participates.  Both television and newspapers join in on the festivities and publish one story on April 1^st that is a complete hoax. It’s a festive day in Norway with everyone all abuzz trying to figure out which story is bogus.

I didn’t know about this tradition the year we lived in Norway.  When I read the newspaper that day, I was so upset by a particular story I immediately started formulating a letter to the editor. 

The most famous lookout and best place to take photos above our beloved city, was reported as sold to a developer because the community needed extra funds.  Luxury condos would be built in its place. It was almost like selling off the town’s soul.  The article included drawings of how the hilltop would look, and interviews from the architect and developer.  It was impressively believable, and I fell for it hook, line and sinker.  When I went to get help from a cousin in writing the letter, it was then I found out I’d been duped. 

Every newspaper in the country puts in one fake story on the first of April and they never retract it or reveal which one it is.  The evening news also broadcasts a hoax that day.  The national tourist board even ran an ad over in Sweden one year, just to pull one over on the Swedes.  They advertised a new underground railroad that would travel from Stockholm to northern Norway in less than an hour.  The phone number they printed for more information basically said, “Gotcha.” 

Published hoaxes have included reports about a new law that kindergarteners must wear protective helmets to school for additional safety; the national labor union eliminated some of the holidays in order to improve competitiveness; and all medical patients will receive a micro chip implant in order to better track their medical conditions.  The best one, I think though, was the one where the government reported confiscating over 100,000 bottles of wine from smugglers and rather than let it all go to waste, they would be distributing it on a first come first serve basis at certain liquor stores.  The lines started forming early on April 2^nd, but the thirsty customers were not able to drown out their sorrow when they realized they’d been fooled.