Gods & Gags

Tomorrow marks the first of April—a day set for good humor and practical jokes. The origin of the day is not fully known, but different prank-related days have surfaced in virtually every culture. The jokes have evolved over the years from simple fake stories and tying shoelaces together to larger, organized media hoaxes. In 1957, the BBC received backlash from many viewers after they featured Swiss farmers “harvesting spaghetti from a spaghetti tree” in a current affairs film. Interest in purchasing a spaghetti plant quickly rose until the BBC had to break the unfortunate news.

In recent times, many large brands and companies have hopped on the April Fools for fake promotions or product launches. Notable examples include Burger King’s Whopper-flavored toothpaste ad, Nestle’s coffee-flavored creamer, and Google Maps turning their app into the Pac-Man game for a day. Even the Milwaukee County Transit System got in on the fun when they offered a new non-stop bus route from Wisconsin to Japan.

Although April Fools is relatively new in the grand scheme of things, hijinks and shenanigans have long been part of the human experience. Throughout history, a key aspect of tomfoolery belonged to tricksters. Many cultures have notable characters responsible for getting up to no good. These could take the form of gods, animals, and many other beings depending on the story. From giving a few quick laughs to causing havoc wherever they go, tricksters can be found in many roles. As you embark on your travels this year, keep a careful eye out these icons of local folklore who may be looking to pull a couple pranks.

Loki

Popularized by the recent Marvel movies, this shapeshifting Norse god has been depicted as a salmon, a horse, a fly, and even as an old woman from time to time. He’s said to be morally ambiguous and goes back and forth between aiding the other gods and causing torment or mischief. According to the myths, after aiding the death of one god, he was imprisoned and will only be released during Ragnarök (the apocalypse). Hopefully we have a while before then!

Anansi

This wise but cunning spider from Ghanan folklore is responsible for the many tales of spider characters that have emerged from West Africa. While many of his endeavors revolve around his ability to trick fellow story characters, he is heavily associated with resisting enslavement. In much of his lore, Anansi stands up against oppression and is known for using his creativity, wisdom, and a few sneaky methods to support those who are persecuted in gaining the upper hand.

Eris

This Greek goddess of strife and chaos, known as “Discordia,” in Roman mythology, seems to always find her way into conflict among the Greek myths. As a quiet figure, Eris tends to play backseat role when causing trouble. She enjoys disrupting order through small acts that tend to have a pretty intense domino effect. In one famous story, Eris threw a golden apple during the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, that was inscribed “To the Fairest”. Three Greek goddesses; Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite became involved in quite the argument about who the apple should go to. Zeus chose a man named Paris to be the judge of the apple’s owner, and he was easily swayed when Aphrodite offered him the hand of Helen of Troy. However, Helen of Troy was already married, which ended up leading to the Trojan War. So, it might be a good idea to watch out for flying apples on your trip to Greece.

Coyote

Native Americans also rely on a trickster in many of their stories, and that character is none other than the infamous coyote. Mainly featured in folklore from tribes in the area that is now modern-day California, he’s known as a devious creature, but also has a soft spot for helping out man, representing a duality of order and chaos. A famous tale of his runs as a direct parallel to the Greek story of Prometheus, where he and a band of other animal companions steal fire from a group of supernatural beings and hand it off to each other until it reaches the humans.

Sun Wukong

This Chinese character, also known as the Monkey King, has a played a prominent role in Chinese culture and was a main character in the 16th century novel, Journey to the West. Sun Wukong’s lore spans thousands of years and through hundreds of stories, including being imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha and inheriting 72 supernatural powers in effort to be the protector of every monkey. Many stories involve his quests for adventure and self-improvement; however, there’s not much improving to do after gaining 72 superpowers.

Puck

You may recognize this name from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where he uses a potion to cause a group of lovers to fall in love with different people. However, he ends up restoring things to their right place by the end of the play and gives a kind monologue apologizing for any offense that might’ve been taken. However, his story continues far outside the theater. He’s a key figure in Celtic and English folklore, and is known as a silly and unpredictable, but good-natured. He’s best known for common pranks, such as leading travelers along the wrong path or mixing up people by confusing identities. If you by chance run into the crafty Puck on a journey through the British Isles, it may be in your best interest not to follow him.

Witness ancient lore and its echoes in modern day culture when you join O.A.T for Fjord Cruise & Lapland: Norway, Finland & the Arctic Circle.