Many of the world’s cultures have a traditional time of the year set aside just for fun and laughter, when tricks, comedy, pranks, and practical jokes prevail. That’s why April Fool’s Day has become a tradition.

Anthropologists call these holidays “renewal festivals,” because they purposely upend the established social order with hilarity, mayhem, and misrule.

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This kind of intentional fun resonates for Baha’is all around the world, no matter what culture they come from. Abdu’l-Baha constantly encouraged happiness and laughter among the Baha’is, for example, saying that smiles and laughter are “a spiritual state:”

Laughter is caused by the slackening or relaxation of the nerves. It is an ideal condition and not physical. Laughter is the visible effect of an invisible cause. For example, happiness and misery are super-sensuous phenomena. One cannot hear them with the ears or touch them with his hands. Happiness is a spiritual state.

The Universal House of Justice, the democratically-elected global leadership body of the world’s Baha’is, has written that:

Humour, happiness, joy are characteristics of a true Baha’i life. Frivolity palls and eventually leads to boredom and emptiness, but true happiness and joy and humour that are parts of a balanced life that includes serious thought, compassion and humble servitude to God are characteristics that enrich life and add to its radiance.

So in the pursuit of some of that joy, let’s explore the multicultural origins of April Fool’s Day.

One of the oldest known renewal festival traditions came from ancient Persia. Modern-day Iranians and others still celebrate Sizdah Bedar on the 13^th day of the Persian Naw-Ruz or New Year, which (because of the lunar calendar) usually falls sometime around April 1^st. On that day, since 536 BC, Persians have celebrated the coming of spring by going outside for picnics and playing jokes and pranks on each other. 

Sizdah Bedar may have emerged from the ancient Zoroastrian belief that laughter and joy symbolize the expelling or throwing away of all bad thoughts.

Similarly, the ancient Romans celebrated a festival on March 25^th called Hilaria, which they observed by wearing masks, holding masquerades, and promoting “general good cheer.”

The April Fool’s Day tradition in France and French-speaking Canada is called poisson d’avril, which means April’s fish. On April 1, pranksters try to secretly attach a paper fish to peoples’ backs. Italy and Belgium also celebrate April’s Fish, which historians believe emerged from the idea that a young, innocent fish was the easiest one to catch.

Poland celebrates prima aprilis (Latin for the first day of April) as their national day of jokes, when people concoct elaborate hoaxes and pranks – which can and do originate even from government and public institutions. For the Poles, not much that is serious happens on prima aprilis.

During March in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Hindus celebrate Holi, the festival of colors, with fun for children, general merrymaking, parades and public games. Holi celebrants mark the coming of spring with bonfires, throwing colored powder and perfume on each other, and generally ignoring, for a short period, any distinction of class and caste.

In late February the world’s Baha’is celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha, or Intercalary Days, the four or five days (in Leap years) before the last month of the year in the Baha’i calendar. The Baha’is rejoice during Intercalary Days, and their celebrations include parties, feasting, hospitality, the giving of gifts, and charity for the poor.

In the West, April Fool’s Day – sometimes called “All Fools Day” – probably evolved from many cultures at around the same time, all centered on vernal equinox celebrations and the giddy joy and excitement of the coming of spring. 

The April Fool’s tradition probably began sometime around 1582 in the West, when France adopted Pope Gregory XIII’s Gregorian calendar and shifted their New Year’s celebration from the first days of spring to January 1^st. Without mass communication the new calendar didn’t reach everyone quickly, and even when it did many people refused to throw out the Julian calendar. Eventually those people were called fools, and were subject to ridicule, practical jokes, and “fool’s errands.” As time passed, the harassment turned into more gentle pranks, tricks, hoaxes, and practical jokes.  

By the way, your shoe is untied. No, seriously.

One fun April Fool’s Day site – www.museumofhoaxes.com – reports that some of the best-known April Fool’s jokes have been mass media-perpetrated:

• On 1 April 1957, the respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. It accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge numbers of viewers were taken in. Many called the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. To this the BBC diplomatically replied, “place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”

• The April 1998 issue of the New Mexicans for Science and Reason newsletter contained an article claiming that the Alabama state legislature had voted to change the value of the mathematical constant pi from 3.14159 to the ’Biblical value’ of 3.0. Soon the article made its way onto the internet, and then it rapidly spread around the world, forwarded by email. It only became apparent how far the article had spread when the Alabama legislature began receiving hundreds of calls from people protesting the legislation. The original article, which was intended as a parody of legislative attempts to circumscribe the teaching of evolution, was written by physicist Mark Boslough.

• During an interview on BBC Radio 2, on the morning of April 1, 1976, the respected British astronomer Patrick Moore announced that an extraordinary astronomical event was about to occur. At exactly 9:47 am, the planet Pluto would pass directly behind Jupiter, in relation to the Earth. This rare alignment would mean that the combined gravitational force of the two planets would exert a stronger tidal pull, temporarily counteracting the Earth’s own gravity and making people weigh less. Moore called this the Jovian-Plutonian Gravitational Effect.

  Moore told listeners that they could experience the phenomenon by jumping in the air at the precise moment the alignment occurred. If they did so, he promised, they would experience a strange floating sensation. At 9:47, Moore declared, “Jump now!” A minute passed, and then the BBC switchboard lit up with dozens of people calling in to report that the experiment had worked! A Dutch woman from Utrecht said that she and her husband had floated around the room together. Another caller claimed she had been seated around a table with eleven friends and that all of them, including the table, had begun to ascend. But not everyone was happy. One angry caller complained he had risen from the ground so rapidly that he hit his head on the ceiling, and he wanted compensation.

So today, on April Fool’s Day, go ahead, play a (gentle) joke on those around you, and create some joy.

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A railway station concourse is a stressful place. Trains come and go, announcements call out, screens flicker, lights flash and people run in different directions. Yet it was this chaotic scene that I was being asked to imagine on a mindful walking weekend in north-east Wales – one designed to help me unplug from stressful situations and learn tricks to sooth my senses in day-to-day life. I lifted my head to look at the assembled group – my friend Cerys, Nicky (who runs her own hospitality business), Claire, whose company started this tour, and Belinda Gammon, a mindfulness guide and therapist. We were high on a hill above the hamlet of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog in north Wales, where only the sound of wind-rustled leaves could be heard.

“Think of your mind as being this station,” said Belinda in a slow, soothing tone. “Your thoughts are the trains that endlessly pass through, creating noise. You have the potential to jump on to any one of them – without really knowing where it will end up – but doing that can get you lost, confused, overwhelmed. Mindfulness
meditation helps us to observe the trains but not board any.”

Her metaphor was particularly apt. The previous afternoon Cerys and I – mums to a toddler and teenagers respectively – had begun our trip at London’s Euston station, congratulating ourselves for booking a break that would give us mental time out from juggling parenthood and work.

The West Arms in Llanarmon Dyffryn-Ceiriog. Photograph: Phoebe Smith

Barely had our train pulled out than we were interrupted by a call from the nursery (my toddler had taken a tumble and I needed to sign an online accident form), an urgent text message from work, and a message from Cerys’s youngest child about the whereabouts of his bus pass. Whether or not mindful walking would work seemed irrelevant: we both needed this escape.

Claire Copeman – owner of Adventure Tours UK, which is certified as a socially responsible “B corporation” – began running these mindful walking tours during lockdown. She met us from Chirk station, south of Wrexham, and whisked us to the West Arms, a 16th-century coaching inn in the Ceiriog Valley.

The hills felt suddenly larger than I ever thought possible and my mind was temporarily blown

“It’s totally different from the usual hiking, kayaking, cycling and running trips we offer, and I wasn’t sure how popular it would be,” said Claire. “But they completely sold out, so we put more on.” The weekends appeal to a wide mix of people, she added, from city workers wanting to escape hectic jobs to pensioners keen to get outside in a slow and thoughtful way.

A stay at the West Arms is part of the unwinding process – manager Sian welcomed us as though we were family. Despite our stressful journey, we felt instantly more relaxed, and before long were exploring the nooks and crannies of the old building, which started life as a farm in the 1570s before being transformed into a drovers’ inn, where cattle drivers would rest their livestock en route to markets in Oswestry and London. Now it’s frequented by people from the old market towns, who come to eat locally sourced food (Dolwen Welsh lamb, fish from the north Wales coast and speciality wild meat dishes from the village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant), and sup ale from a microbrewery down the road.

Participants are encouraged to sit or lie down and contemplate the environment. Photograph: Phoebe Smith

The next morning, after Belinda explained mindfulness using the station analogy, we continued on what would be a five-mile jaunt into the foothills of the little-known Berwyn Mountains.

We began wandering amid farmland, before resting for a few minutes beside a brook while Belinda led an exercise to help us notice just how busy our minds can get. As we climbed higher into an ancient woodland, we lay down on the grass and learned through a guided meditation how to focus on our breathing. I began to notice things I would have missed while walking at my usual pace. I smelled the tangy scent of wood sorrel, heard the call of a meadow pipit, realised how similar the sound of wind moving through woodland is to waves lapping on a shore.

Mindful guide and therapist Belinda Gammon leads a group exercise. Photograph: Phoebe Smith

By the time we reached a line of wizened hawthorn and stopped to eat our lunch, the mood was decidedly serene. I began to realise that on a slower, more considered walk, you might cover less in terms of distance, but experience a lot more.

Next, Belinda made us focus on the microscopic detail of a leaf before drawing us back into the wider landscape. After focusing for such a long time on the minutiae, where moss began to resemble a thick forest, the hills felt suddenly larger than I ever thought possible and my mind was temporarily blown. Claire took the opportunity to remind us of the larger impact we can have on our environment, too. As part of her mission to protect the places she visits (she was one of the first tour companies to start carbon-labelling trips), she has partnered with community interest company Trash Free Trails – so participants have the option of collecting any rubbish they find when walking one of their regular routes, then sorting and recording it in an online survey. The data collected contributes to an evidence base for action on litter pollution.

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The group encourages walkers to collect rubbish on their walk. Photograph: Phoebe Smith

Being told about this coincided with Belinda asking us to do the final part of the walk in silence. It worked beautifully. As we concentrated on our breathing, the landscape and our place in it and found an inner calm, we removed a lot of farm waste (rope, feed sacks and pieces of machinery) along with cans, food wrappers and water bottles. It sounds arduous, but it felt like a pleasure.

It was a gratifying way to finish the trip – surrounded by thriving saplings

Back at the West Arms for our second and final night of freedom ­– and relishing the chance to chat again – we decided that while we didn’t find every exercise worked for us (the half-hour of silent walking was a bit frustrating for two friends eager to talk), taking time out to listen to the sounds and take in the smells, made us appreciate the venue a lot more. Belinda had also given us some tools to cope with the madness of our everyday lives. My main takeaway was that even as a mum who constantly juggles childcare and working, it’s all right to not think about your kids all the time and to allow yourself time out.

On our last morning, after a hearty breakfast, Claire took us to a footpath on the edge of Moel Famau country park. There we walked uphill to see the small growing forest her company is creating in association with the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty wardens. For every guest who comes on a tour, a birch, oak, wild cherry, hawthorn or pear tree is planted.

A tree is planted for every guest who books a tour and cared for by area of outstanding natural beauty wardens. Photograph: Phoebe Smith

So far, the company has planted 335. It was a gratifying way to finish the trip, surrounded by thriving saplings. As we made our way to the station my phone began to beep alerts once more, demanding my attention. But instead of stressfully responding, I embraced my inner Belinda and temporarily put it on silent. For now, I’d learned that everything can wait.

Adventure Tours UK (adventuretoursuk.com) Mindful Walking North Wales trip runs every year from September to May. The next is on 29 September. Price from £365pp includes two nights in the West Arms, welcome dinner, breakfasts, packed lunch for the guided mindful walk and a native tree planted in the Moel Famau woodland.

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It was a situation I would normally have relished: stuck in a comfortable mountain hut with a bar, restaurant and sauna. A blizzard raging outside. Warm on the inside. Board games and books available. This was Norway and the four of us knew not to overdo the beer and snacks. Yet, when the storm relented and we were free to leave, I got the bill. My heart only restarted when I thought about the extra expense of a cardiac arrest.

I suppose many visitors to Scandinavia go through a similar moment of financial panic. It usually happens, like mine, on the first trip. Think of it as a learning curve, like the one traced by Eddie the Eagle as he plummeted prematurely earthwards after a moment of graceful flight. It’s one of life’s supreme challenges: how does one make Scandinavia affordable? Perhaps it’s impossible, but at least we’ll give it our best shot.

Free stuff and activities

Street art in Christiania, Copenhagen. Photograph: Tim Pile/Alamy

Lots of outdoor activities in Scandinavia don’t cost anything. There are shelters, huts and firepits everywhere, freely available to all. In Copenhagen you can kayak around the harbour free of charge with Green Kayaks, on the understanding that you litter-pick while out. There’s a superb summer swimming area there too, plus lots of beaches like Amager Strand further out. Stockholm offers free outdoor swimming opportunities galore.

All over Scandinavia the aurora borealis is provided free. All you need to do is check the likelihood of solar activity (there are many free apps) and go outside at night, preferably to a high point. In summer, however, you will want to enjoy the long evenings, and the capital cities offer free entertainment: walk Oslo’s fine collection of street art, Copenhagen’s Christiania district and Stockholm’s public art collection. Climb the tallest tower in Copenhagen free of charge. Check out flea markets, popular all across Scandinavia, and free attractions such as the Botanical Gardens in Aarhus.

Author Kevin Rushby goes off-road in Sweden. Photograph: Kevin Rushby/The Guardian

Another great tip is to make yourself into the freebie. Volunteering is big in Scandinavia. In return for accommodation and food, you might find yourself on cooking duties for a family, or painting the farm’s barn, or looking after the horses.

A lot of infrastructure in Scandinavia is set up to help you: buses and trains carry bikes, there will be a hut with a fireplace or log burner at the end of your hike, the lake will have a jetty to dive from. In Sweden there are lovely old kallbadhus, cold bath houses; Gothenburg is getting a spectacular public sauna built from recycled materials; Stockholm already has one at Hellasgården, a short bus ride from the centre (it’s not free, but affordable at £7.90).

The competence and skill of locals at accessing the great outdoors can be intimidating to outsiders, something that inspired Thomas Ohlander and Helena Hjort from Sweden’s Do The North. Their trips try to teach visitors how to get out there.

“We do run guided kayak trips,” says Helena, “but we also rent gear for self-guided paddling adventures and plenty of total beginners go for that.”

The abundance of islands, all close together, with wild camping spots galore helps (and is obviously cheaper than joining a hosted trip).

Transport

The Discover Copenhagen card includes the ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg, Sweden. Photograph: Manfred Gottschalk/Alamy

Look out for deals on travel passes: for example, the Oslo Pass (24 hours, adults from £36) gets you free public transport and entry to museums and galleries, as well as discounts on restaurants and cafes. With planning, the pass can pay for itself.

The Discover Copenhagen Card (24 hours, from £52) has similar advantages, but the wide regional coverage gets you out to places like Roskilde with its Viking Ship museum (adult entry May-Oct £18, under-18s free) and medieval cathedral (free entry). You can also go to Helsingør and take the short ferry ride to Helsingborg in Sweden.

Stockholm’s card (one day, £60) is not as wide-ranging, though it does include access to some hop-on, hop-off boat and bus tours around the city.

Cycling is almost always a good money-saving idea – and not just in cities. Local electric bikes can increase your exploration range significantly.

Accommodation

In Sweden the right to roam, allemansrätten, is in the constitution. Wild camping is allowed as long as you leave no trace and stay away from roads and buildings. Wilderness areas can be huge and careful planning is required.

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Norway has a similar policy. Oddgeir Sagerup, a guide in northern Norway and Svalbard, recommends wild camping between May and September, saying: “It’s free and easy. Just stay at least 200 metres away from the nearest house or cabin.”

When you are in towns, he suggests finding municipal and community centres that offer cheaper beds.

In Denmark there are more than 1,000 free camping locations. The West Coast cycle route – from Rudbøl on the German border to the northern tip of Denmark at Skagen – also has free overnight shelters. Danish forests allow overnight camping, but read the rules. Hostels such as Book1 in Aarhus are dotted across the country.

In Sweden, hostels, vandrarhem, and B&Bs can be found all over. Bed linen and towels aren’t usually included but can be rented for a small fee. The non-profit Swedish Tourist Association runs about 250 hostels, hotels and mountain cabins as part of its commitment to making Sweden’s nature and culture accessible to all.

“They vary a lot in price,” says Hjort. “It’s quite pricey to stay along the popular King’s Trail, for example, but much cheaper if you choose a less-populated trail and cabins with fewer facilities.”

In the Vålådalen area there are a number of good upland hut options, or try the Kuststigen Bohüslan coastal trail, a series of more than 230 miles of trails along the west coast north of Gothenburg, with a variety of farm and hostel accommodation.

The atmosphere in mountain huts across Scandinavia is like staying with an extended family who have adopted you. Visitors muck in together, sharing food, chores and fun. Accessing that communal interdependence in a spirit of self-reliance is the key to a more affordable Scandinavian trip.

Food and drink

Broens Gadekøkken offers an affordable way of eating out in Copenhagen. Photograph: O Kemppainen/Alamy

Norway and Denmark are regularly in the top five most expensive countries to eat out in, with Sweden not far behind. However, there are ways to dine that don’t break the bank, and plenty of locals are searching for affordable meals out, too.

In Sweden, look for dagens rätt, basically dish of the day, usually available at lunchtime. These are good value, at £8-£12 for main course, side salad and unlimited coffee.

In Norway, at breakfast it’s common to make a matpakke, a lunch sandwich, to take away.

In Denmark bolle med ost, bun with cheese, is a cheaper snack, but you have to accept that food will form a large slice of your budget. In Copenhagen try street food markets Broens Gadekøkken and Reffen, plus the food collective Cofoco. Sustainability expert and city resident Henry Pallister-Dixon recommends the fun Absalon Community dining: “You get a good dinner for about £6, plus entertainment like pub quizzes, bingo and table tennis.”

Also check out street food markets in Odense and Aalborg.

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