Pope Francis is Not Catholic!

In a shocking statement this week, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis is not Catholic! Just as surprising, he is not originally from Argentina, as previously reported, but instead was born and raised in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

You’ve probably realized by now that we’re just having a little fun, and you’ve probably also realized today’s date.

Happy April Fools’ Day!

Beware of fake stories in the paper, on cable news and on the Internet (well, beware of fake Internet stories every day), because this certainly is not the only little prank you’ll encounter today.

The custom of setting aside a day for playing harmless pranks is old and far-reaching. Some precursors of April Fools’ Day include the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria, the Holi festival in India and the Medieval Feast of Fools. There’s even a prank in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales when the Fox tricks the vain Chanticleer.

In places like Ireland and Scotland, the pranks often involve a letter and a fool’s errand. In France, Belgium and French-speaking parts of Canada, the pranks often center on paper fish. Yes, paper fish! In the UK, and in countries that have traditions deriving from the UK, most joking ends at midday; anyone playing a joke after noon is the “April fool” themselves.

On April Fools’ Day, even large corporations sometimes play elaborate practical jokes. In one famous prank from 1957, the BBC broadcast a film in their Panorama current-affairs series purporting to show Swiss farmers picking freshly grown spaghetti from trees. The BBC was flooded with requests from viewers wanting to purchase spaghetti plants, forcing the company to declare the film a hoax on the news the next day.

There’s a Thoughtful Aspect to Fun

Let’s get serious for a moment, though, and think about the freedom of just having a little fun now and then. After all, Fun is one of the 7 F’s of True Success—the work and life model that we encourage everyone to incorporate into their day-to-day. Just as a reminder, those 7 F’s are the Fundamentals of work, sound Finances, Family (and friends), Faith, Fitness, Fun and the Fusion of all these things. Having fun is necessary for a balanced life of happiness and success—in and out of the office.

Let today’s little jokes serve as a reminder to you about the importance of embracing life’s lighthearted moments. Make some fun happen today, and then be sure to do that on a regular basis.

In the long run, these moments of levity and joy will help you do what you do better.