April Fools’ Day is a holiday celebrated around the world, known for its traditions of playing lighthearted tricks on the people in our communities. Although the holiday sets a specific date for people to participate in comedic acts, humor is a prominent part of society no matter the time of year. The innocent nature of April Fools’ Day is the very thing that gives it its charm, but with the current social and political climate, why have jokes on the internet become particularly cruel in recent years?

Prom season is fast approaching, and upperclassmen from across the country are scrambling to prepare for this monumental event in their high school experience. An excited junior or senior might find the following on their shopping list: a formal outfit, flowers, and a poster board. The latter, of course, is for one of the most memorable elements of prom: A “promposal” is an elaborate and public invitation of a date to the dance. This usually entails terrible puns on posters and personalized gifts and is often, but not always, romantic in nature. Some in the audience might roll their eyes at the spectacle, while others swoon. But why does this tradition persist, and why is it so important?