Introduction
Appreciating April Fool’s Day
With March ending soon, April Fool’s Day is just a few days away. Occurring on April 1 every year, it is the perfect occasion for those who love jokes.
While I do not consider myself a joker, I appreciate the sentiments of April Fool’s Day. This is because life can be challenging, stressful, and tragic.
People should take time to laugh to escape the world’s chaos. Realizing this, I’d like to share a practical and biblical perspective on laughter.
Before revealing what the Bible says about laughter, let’s discover the history and ways to celebrate April Fool’s Day.
April Fool’s Day
It’s Origins
April Fool’s Day is famous for participants who playfully deceive people by performing practical jokes and pranks. Interestingly, no one knows how such a humorous day began.
Experts believe three theories may be the catalyst for April Fool’s Day.
One theory involves the Council of Trent requesting France switch from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. This change is the reason why the New Year begins on January 1 instead of April 1.
However, because news of the change did not spread quickly like information today, many remained unaware.
Unfortunately, their unawareness made them the recipients of jokes like having a paper fish taped to their back. Some recipients were even called poisson d’avril (April fish) since these young fish are gullible and easy to catch.
Along with pranking gullible people, some historians associate April Fool’s Day with the Hilaria Festival in Rome. Followers of the Cult of Cybele celebrate the festival at the end of March by wearing disguises and mocking patrons.
Patrons believe the earth itself may enjoy a good April Fools joke. This is due to Mother Nature pranking humans with unpredictable weather during the vernal equinox.
Does God Like Laughter?
In addition to being fooled by Mother Nature, some people are unsure how God feels about laughter. Those with limited biblical knowledge may think God does not have a sense of humor.
The reason why is because he is our holy, Heavenly father who deserves respect.
Scripture also shows God demonstrating righteous forms of jealousy and anger when people continually disobey him. Psalms 37:13 suggests that God laughs at the wicked because he knows they will experience destruction one day.
Wisdom herself will also laugh at a foolish person’s destruction since they refuse to heed her warnings.
While these references reveal God’s ability to demonstrate righteous anger, I believe Eliohim enjoys laughter. One example is the circumstances surrounding a promise he makes to Abraham and Sarah.
God promises the couple they will have their first son in old age (Genesis 15:4; 18:10, New Living Translation). While this promise would be difficult for anyone to believe, God directly confronts Sarah for her internal doubt concerning his promise (Genesis 18:11-15).
Thankfully, despite Sarah’s doubt, God still allows the couple to have a son when Abraham is 100 years old (Genesis 21:1-5). God’s faithfulness compels Sarah to name her son Issac, meaning God has brought me laughter (Genesis 21:6).
Issac’s name serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness toward Sarah, who will joyfully laugh with anyone who hears her testimony (Genesis 21:6).
Laughter is Essential
Humors Benefits
Sarah’s desire to share her gladness about Issac’s birth shows that laughter is a communal activity everyone can enjoy.
Sarah’s testimony is amazing, as it’s not just about friends cracking up over a joke.
Instead, it’s about believers humorously rejoicing over God’s goodness to her through the heartache of infertility.
Sarah’s glee after receiving God’s promise isn’t the only positive endorsement for laughter in the Bible. While the word laughter isn’t used in every verse, scripture says
- There is a time to laugh (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
- A glad heart makes a cheerful face (Proverbs 15:13).
- A joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22).
- Cheerfulness inspires praise to God (Psalms 126:2).
- Laughter, like bread and wine, is a source of entertainment God wants us to enjoy (Ecclesiastes 10:19).
Along with being a source of entertainment, laughter is also beneficial for a healthier life. Medical experts say laughter can
- Alleviate stress.
- Boost your immune system.
- Improve your mood.
- Increase personal delight.
- Relieve pain.
- Stimulate organs.
Celebrate April Fool’s Day with Caution
While laughter is beneficial, those performing April Fool’s Day jokes should exercise caution. The reason is that everyone has a different sense of humor and may not find certain jokes funny.
To ensure your jokes don’t go too far, be mindful of how your antics will impact recipients. You can do this by not
- Using jokes as a way to throw shade.
- Performing pranks that attack someone’s fears.
- Telling jokes that demean a person’s ethnicity, sexuality, religion, weight, etc.
- Telling “little white lies” about serious matters such as death.
- Making jokes that could have legal repercussions.
- Disrespectfully pranking your parents.
Once you’ve taken into consideration how your prank or joke will affect someone, you can celebrate the day by
- Filling a donut box with vegetables.
- Placing a funny sticky note on someone’s back.
- Going live on Instagram with your phone pointed at something beyond boring, leave it there for a while, and see what people comment!
- Putting fake parking tickets on a friend’s car and watching their reaction.
- Putting tape under a coworker’s mouse so they must figure out why they don’t work.
- Jumping out and scaring someone.
- Put the corner of a dollar bill outside of a book so that it’s poking out, but attach that small sample to a larger note that says, “April Fools!”
If pranks don’t fit your style, you can still enjoy the day by
- Watching a sitcom.
- Going to a comedy show.
- Sharing a good laugh with a friend.
How will you celebrate April Fool’s Day? I’d love to hear what you did to make others and yourself laugh. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
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