Cuckoo Day and April Fool’s: Old Irish Superstitions and Pranks

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week. April will shortly arrive with its typical mix of sunshine and showers here in County Cork. Our countryside is alive with birdsong, and in no time we’ll hear the distinctive call of the cuckoo for the first time this year – always a special moment in the Irish calendar! How are things in your part of the world today?

I’m sipping on a cup of Barry’s tea as I write, and I hope you’ll join me with whatever you fancy as we start into today’s letter. This morning, as I was thinking about April the 1st and April traditions, I recalled a message I received a few weeks back from Meg in Alberta:

“Mike, my grandmother was from Donegal and she always made a big deal about April Fool’s Day, calling it ‘Cuckoo Day’ and telling us stories about the tricks people would play. She also used to say “there were a lot of Gawks (spelling?) about at that time of the year” with a smile on her face. She then refused to explain just what a “gawk” was! Were there special April traditions in Ireland different from what we do here in Canada? I’d love to hear more about this! Thanks for your wonderful letters. Meg.”

What perfect timing for your question, Meg! Indeed, the beginning of April has long been associated with trickery and Irish superstitions, though with some fascinating differences from traditions elsewhere. So let’s explore the uniquely Irish approach to spring foolery and the folklore surrounding this time of year. These Irish superstitions about April’s arrival reveal much about our ancestors’ connection to the natural world.

 

The Cuckoo’s Call and April’s Arrival

In Ireland, April 1st wasn’t always always known as “April Fool’s Day” but was often called “Lá na gCuach” or “Cuckoo Day.” This name comes from the traditional belief that the first cuckoo arrives in Ireland on this day, marking the definitive arrival of spring. The cuckoo‘s distinctive call was one of the most anticipated sounds in rural Ireland, signifying that winter was truly behind us.

I’ve heard an elderly neighbour claim that hearing the cuckoo’s first call was lucky, but only if your pockets weren’t empty when you heard it! “If your pockets are empty when you first hear the cuckoo, they’ll remain empty all year,” he would warn. As a result he would carry a coin specifically to avoid this situation from late March to early April. This is just one of many Irish superstitions tied to seasonal changes that helped people feel they had some control over their fortune.

In parts of Ulster, including Donegal, April 1st pranks were often known as “hunting the gowk” (gowk being an old word for the cuckoo or a foolish person). The classic “gowk hunt” involved sending someone to deliver a sealed letter to a neighbour. The letter would contain a message like: “Don’t you laugh and don’t you smile, hunt the gowk another mile.” The recipient, understanding the joke, would claim they needed to send the bearer to someone else, and the process would continue until someone took pity on the victim or they figured out they were being made a fool of. These playful traditions demonstrate how Irish superstitions often blended practical wisdom with community fun.

Beyond the pranks, April 1st and the early days of the month were rich with weather lore and Irish superstitions. Farmers would carefully observe the weather on April 1st, believing it foretold the growing season ahead.

“If it rains on the first of April, you may shut your doors in July” went one old saying, suggesting that rain on April 1st meant a dry summer ahead (not always a blessing in Irish farming!). April 1st was also considered an important day for planting – particularly peas and potatoes in many regions. “Plant on April Fool’s and crop you’re sure to rule” was the old wisdom, suggesting that despite the day’s association with foolishness, it was actually a lucky day for ensuring a good harvest.

 

Modern Days and Ancient Ways

As with many old customs, these April traditions have evolved over time. The worldwide concept of April Fool’s Day has largely taken over the uniquely Irish elements in many communities. Yet, in rural areas, you’ll still find people who pay special attention to the cuckoo’s arrival and who maintain some of the old Irish superstitions. Many Irish superstitions persist because they connect people to their heritage and provide a sense of continuity with the past.

The pranks and jokes of April Fool’s Day give us a release after the hardships of winter, celebrating survival and renewal through laughter. In a country like Ireland, where hardship has often been a companion throughout history, the ability to laugh – even at yourself – has always been a fundamental survival skill. The foolery of April 1st reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously, to embrace the unpredictability of life (and the Irish weather!), and to find joy in simple community connections.

So Meg, your grandmother’s enthusiasm for “Cuckoo Day” (and now you hopefully also know where the term “gawk” came from) was part of a rich Irish tradition. Perhaps this April, you might want to revive some of these old customs with your own family – though I’d advise against sending anyone on a fool’s journey with letter in hand!

How about the rest of our readers? Do you have any memories of April Fool’s or Cuckoo Day traditions in your family? Were there special pranks played in your Irish ancestral areas? Do let me know in the comments section below.

That’s it for this week,

Happy Cuckoo day,

Slán for now,

Mike.