Saint (St.) Stupid Day – April Fool’s Day
Saint Stupid’s Day is an annual parade and celebration held every April 1st (April Fools’ Day) in San Francisco, California. It was founded in the late 1970s by a street performer and absurdist philosopher named Ed Holmes, also known as Bishop Joey of the “First Church of the Last Laugh.” The event celebrates the “universal nature of stupidity” — poking fun at bureaucracy, politics, religion, capitalism, and just about anything taken too seriously. It’s a form of satire and joyful absurdity. Participants wear costumes, carry silly signs, chant nonsensical slogans, and perform street theater. Traditional stops often include places like the Pacific Stock Exchange and banks — symbols of serious, “stupid” human institutions. The event usually features games like a “Sock Exchange,” confessions to parking meters, free lunches, and group chants. It’s spontaneous, unpredictable, and invites maximum participation. The core message is that stupidity is a universal human trait, and by celebrating it, people can be more forgiving, humorous, and self-aware.
Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day
Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day is celebrated annually on April 1st, marking the launch of the network’s first nationwide broadcast in 1979. This day honors Nickelodeon’s legacy in children’s entertainment and its ongoing influence on pop culture. In 2025, Nickelodeon commemorated its 46th anniversary with a series of nostalgic and interactive events. Fans enjoyed reruns of iconic series like Rugrats, SpongeBob SquarePants, Hey Arnold!, and The Amanda Show, celebrating the network’s rich history. The network hosted trivia games, scavenger hunts, and character meet-and-greets, engaging audiences of all ages. Embracing its signature green slime, Nickelodeon organized slime-themed games and activities, allowing fans to partake in the messy fun. Continuing its tradition of giving back, Nickelodeon partnered with organizations to support causes important to its community.
Here’s a straightforward historical overview of April 1st:
Historical Events
April Fools’ Day: April 1st is best known for April Fools’ Day, a day of pranks and hoaxes. Its exact origins are unclear, but some historians trace it back to the 16th century when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Those who continued to celebrate the New Year during the last week of March into April were mocked as “April fools.”
1700: English pranksters popularized April Fools’ Day by playing practical jokes on each other. The tradition eventually spread to Britain and Scotland.
1789: The U.S. House of Representatives held its first full meeting at Federal Hall in New York City, after the U.S. Constitution had come into effect.
1924: Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch. He served less than one year, during which he wrote Mein Kampf.
1970: President Richard Nixon signed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, banning cigarette advertisements on television and radio in the United States.
1976: Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.).
1979: Nickelodeon launched as the first cable channel for children.
2001: The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
2004: Google introduced Gmail to the public. Many initially thought it was an April Fools’ prank because of its large storage offering (1 GB per user, unheard of at the time).
2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many brands and media outlets canceled April Fools’ jokes out of sensitivity to the global crisis.
Notable Births
1578 – William Harvey: English physician who discovered the circulation of blood.
1815 – Otto von Bismarck: German statesman who unified Germany and served as its first Chancellor.
1865 – Richard Zsigmondy: Austrian-German chemist and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry (1925) for research in colloids.
1873 – Sergei Rachmaninoff: Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, known for his piano concertos and symphonies.
1883 – Lon Chaney: American actor known as “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” famous for silent horror films like The Phantom of the Opera.
1919 – Joseph Murray: American surgeon and Nobel Prize winner (1990) for pioneering organ transplant surgery.
1920 – Toshiro Mifune: Japanese actor known for his collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa, including films like Seven Samurai.
1932 – Debbie Reynolds: American actress and singer, best known for her role in Singin’ in the Rain.
1949 – Gil Scott-Heron: American poet, musician, and author, considered one of the pioneers of rap music.
1957 – Norman “Norm” Abram: American carpenter and TV personality, known for This Old House.
1971 – Method Man: American rapper, member of Wu-Tang Clan, and actor.
1983 – Matt Lanter: American actor and voice of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
1991 – Asa Butterfield: English actor known for Hugo, Ender’s Game, and Sex Education.
Notable Deaths
1865 – Richard Cobden: British politician and advocate of free trade, influential in the repeal of the Corn Laws.
1917 – Scott Joplin: American composer and pianist, often called the “King of Ragtime” for works like The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag.
1947 – George II of Greece: King of Greece during a turbulent period that included exile during World War II.
1984 – Marvin Gaye: American soul singer, songwriter, and producer, known for songs like What’s Going On and Let’s Get It On. Tragically, he was shot and killed by his father one day before his 45th birthday.
1991 – Martha Graham: American modern dancer and choreographer, a major figure in the development of contemporary dance.
2003 – Leslie Cheung: Hong Kong singer and actor, widely respected in Asian pop culture, known for Farewell My Concubine and Happy Together.
2012 – Giorgio Chinaglia: Italian footballer, famous for his time with Lazio and the New York Cosmos.
2015 – Cynthia Lennon: First wife of John Lennon of The Beatles.
2022 – C. W. McCall: American singer-songwriter, best known for the hit song Convoy.
