It’s time to dig out your whoopee cushion, set your inner prankster free and beware of those around you.

Remember the days when your friends would mistakenly tell you that your “shoe was untied,” only for you to look down and see that your shoes were perfectly fine? Yep, I’ve fallen for that one.

On April Fool’s Day, everyone is fair game.

Whether you’re the one pranking or being pranked, make sure it’s all in good fun and not at all serious.

I tend to think I’m a funny person. I remember one of the best pranks I planned with a bunch of girls in my sorority. We put Saran Wrap on our friend’s chair, so when she sat down, she was covered in it. Though it may not have been as creative as we would have liked, she took it well, and we laughed it off.

Good April Fool’s Day pranks tread a fine line between creative and cruel. Practical jokesters emerge from hiding and play pranks and hoaxes on those around them. If you’re planning a scheme, look at the personality of the person you’re pranking. It’s one thing if you hug your friend and put a Post-it note saying, “kick me” on your back, but it’s another if you “accidentally” lock your roommate out of your room.

But why is this day considered a “holiday”? Sure, Unofficial isn’t exactly a “holiday” either, but the origin of April Fool’s Day, sometimes called All Fool’s Day, is unknown. Some believe it has to do with the changing seasons, although it doesn’t seem like spring will hit Champaign-Urbana anytime soon.

Legend has it that it began in late 16th century France when the Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII, was introduced. The calendar called for the New Year to begin on Jan. 1 instead of April 1. However, many people were unaware of the change until a few years later. Some were rebellious and refused to acknowledge the change, celebrating on April 1. These people were labeled “fools” by the general population and subject to practical jokes played on them. They were sent on “fool’s errands” and were invited to nonexistent parties. Called “Poisson d’Avril,” which literally translates to “April fish”, these people were willing to take the bait of a joke. Get it?

This prank-playing evolved over time and spread around the world. It was introduced in the United States in the late 18th century.

In some countries, such as Canada and England, the joke is over at noon. People who continue to play tricks after noon are considered April Fools.

In a December 2002 article published in the San Francisco Gate, a Museum of Hoaxes Web site was created in 1998 by Alex Boese. The San Diego-based site is home to more than 300 years of acts of deception and fun, practical jokes.

Boese distinguishes the difference between a hoax and an urban legend; hoaxes, he said, are lies that are purposefully designed by someone to mislead another person, while urban legends are more on the scale of rumors that are false but do not have a purpose.

Thanks to the Internet, as Boese points out, more people have access to our public culture, and it has become a lot easier to get a message out to the public.

But, I’m still not convinced. Maybe I’m falling for another hoax.

So it’s not a real holiday, per se, and to some it is mere foolishness.

But however you decide to celebrate this tradition, be sure it is all in good humor.

You’ve got to add a little humor in your life, especially when you’re stressed; after all, studies have shown that laughter truly is the best medicine. Go out and have fun, but be prepared for the mischief and mayhem on Friday.

As you’re reading this, you probably think I’m going to finish with a joke. Or ask you to check your shoes. But I’m not. I’m thinking of a creative scheme right now, and I’m warning you, so you better watch out.

Hannah is a junior in Media.