11 Ways to Fool Your Arab American Parents this April Fools' Day
BY: Yara Jouzy/Contributing Writer
April Fools’ Day is a global holiday enjoyed by many. People all over the world celebrate this day with numerous pranks on family and friends. It is a time to share giggles and trick the people you’ve been waiting to fool all year. Arab Americans love cracking and telling jokes, so why not play one on them? Here are a few ways to have a laugh with your parents this April Fools’ Day:
1. Replace the pepper shaker with za’atar
Arabs give flavor to everything they eat, including salt and pepper, which are used on almost everything; why not add some za’atar to it on this day?
2. Tell mama you forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer
In the Arab culture, it is tradition to have meals together after a long day of work or school. Mama would come home after work ready to cook dinner and the worst thing to happen is she finds out you forgot to take the chicken out the freezer. Have her believe it for a while and share laughs together.
3. Borrow your friends dog for the day and tell your parents you got a new pet
Arab parents absolutely hate bringing pets into the house. They always make excuses that they’re dirty and you can’t have one. This April Fools’ Day, borrow your friends dog and have it spend the night with you.
4. Change the clocks around the house because you know Arabs have clocks everywhere
Although there are clocks all around the house and Arabs are late to everything, time is key. Switching the hours of multiple clocks, phones, and other technological devices will confuse your parents.
5. Get a fake tattoo with an Arabic quote
Tattoos are always trending, particularly for teenagers or those in high school or college. It’s every Arab parent’s worst nightmare to find out their kid got a tattoo that probably doesn’t even make sense to them. Buy the temporary tattoos or use a sharpie that to trick them into thinking you got one.
6. Come home with the an F written on an exam
Education is everything. Baba wants you to be a doctor, mama wants you to be an engineer and teta just wants you to do good for this world. The goal is to always work your hardest and get the best grade in the class. Come home with a fake test and an F written on it and see your parents react.
7. Autocorrect the words habibi and mama on mamas phone to kalb
Habibi and mama are in every Arab mothers daily vocabulary. It’s almost impossible to text your mom without her using any of these words in a day. Autocorrect these two words on her phone to kalb, then text her telling her you love her and wait until she notices it.
8. Tell them you’re full after one plate
Arabs love to eat. It’s considered disrespectful to only eat one plate and say you’re full. Fool your parents and tell them you’re not hungry anymore.
9. Become vegan
Not only do Arabs love food, but they also love meat and chicken. In almost every dish there has to be some sort of meat. Imagine telling your parents you’re turning vegan – it would be a nightmare!
10. Announce you’ve decided not to get married at all
Your parents want to see you successful, happy, and married. Closing the door for marriage will really get them this April Fools’ Day.
11. Invite friends over and set up the gathering in the off limits area of the house
Lastly, go into the off limits area at home and set up snacks and drinks there. Tell your mom you have friends coming over and wait for it all to take place.