Governments are usually known for laws, taxes, and long speeches. But every now and then, they let their hair down and pull off something that leaves everyone laughing, scratching their heads, or both. Whether it was to make a point or just lighten the mood, these oddball moments show that bureaucracy can have a wild side too.

Some of these were clever, some were just plain weird, and a few made people wonder if someone in the office lost a bet. Let’s get into the strangest and funniest pranks that governments have pulled on their own people.

Metric Time in Australia

In 1975, Australians turned on the TV to hear that the government was switching to metric time. Instead of 60 seconds in a minute, there’d be 100. And 20-hour days. The announcement came with official charts and interviews with “experts” explaining how daily life would now run on the new time system. It was all very serious, until people realized it aired on April 1st. The prank was so detailed, some people even asked where to get the new clocks.

The Great Spaghetti Tree Hoax

The BBC, a serious news outlet, once ran a story claiming spaghetti grew on trees. Viewers watched a calm, professional report showing Swiss farmers harvesting spaghetti strands from tree branches. The idea was so convincing that people started calling the BBC, asking how they could grow their own spaghetti trees. This April Fools’ prank in 1957 is still one of the most famous media tricks ever pulled, proof that even governments can mix humor with public broadcasting.

Denmark’s Invisible Border Troll

Denmark once released a public notice warning that a mythical creature, a border troll, was on the loose near the German border. Travelers were told to carry "troll repellent" or risk being “troll-napped.” It was done with straight faces by officials and even included a fake photo of the troll caught on camera. Though obviously fake to some, it still caused mild panic near the border that day. The goal? Just a bit of fun and a creative way to joke about border control.

The Left-Handed Whopper

While this came from Burger King, the prank wouldn’t have landed without the U.S. government letting it roll in newspapers. A full-page ad claimed the Left-Handed Whopper was now available for the 32 million lefties in America. The “new” burger was the same, just rotated 180 degrees. Thousands of people actually requested it. While not a direct government prank, they did nothing to stop it, and even officials joked about issuing left-handed napkins next.

Soviet Union's "Time Travel" Radio Show

In the 1980s, a Soviet radio station aired a segment saying that scientists had achieved time travel. The voice on the radio spoke to “someone” from the year 2060, who said everyone now lived forever and robots did all the work. The segment was meant to inspire hope about the future, but it aired on April 1st. When people started showing up at offices asking to sign up for robot assistants, the station had to clarify it was just a joke.

Canada’s Tree-Sitting Permit

In 2008, Canadian authorities said anyone wanting to sit under a tree in a public park would now need a “tree-sitting permit.” Rangers were allegedly going around asking people for their permits and issuing warnings. The fake policy included fines and even “tree time limits” to avoid overuse of tree shade. Some people even lined up at city halls to apply before realizing the date: April 1st.

Sweden’s Color TV Trick

In 1962, Sweden’s only TV station announced that viewers could instantly get color TV by pulling a nylon stocking over their black-and-white screen. A government engineer appeared on camera explaining the science behind it, using words like “light refraction” and “wavelength distortion.” Thousands rushed to their drawers, covered their screens, and waited for the colors to pop. Needless to say, it didn’t work.

Iceland’s Polar Bear Panic

A government emergency alert once went out warning citizens that a polar bear had swum to the Icelandic coast and was roaming freely. News outlets covered it non-stop. Some locals even loaded their cars with fish to lure the bear. It was all fake, done to test emergency systems, and to see how people might react in a real wildlife situation. The bear, of course, never showed up.

Germany’s Passport Emoji Law

Germany’s Ministry of Internal Affairs posted a serious-looking update saying emojis would now be allowed in official passports. Citizens could pick between happy, sad, or “cool sunglasses” emoji to express their travel mood. Applications allegedly skyrocketed for the “laughing face” passport. The prank was widely shared, and even some government staffers believed it was real for a few hours.

South Korea’s Ghost Reporting App

South Korea’s government once “launched” an app that allowed people to report ghost sightings. It came with fake screenshots, a hotline number, and promises of immediate ghost investigation teams. The app was said to be backed by the Ministry of the Supernatural, something that doesn’t exist. It was all in good fun and went viral before people figured out it was a hoax.

The Dutch Moonlight Tax

In the Netherlands, a local council pranked citizens by saying they were going to charge a “moonlight tax.” The logic? People were benefiting from moonlight while walking, driving, or enjoying romantic moments without paying. The announcement included proposed tax brackets depending on how much time you spent outside at night. It was silly but sounded just real enough to confuse a few folks.

New Zealand’s Flying Penguins

The New Zealand government backed a video showing a new species of flying penguins discovered on a remote island. Scientists were shown watching the birds take off like small planes. The video was incredibly well-made and aired on official platforms. Some people got excited, while others demanded answers about how they’d been lied to for years about penguins not flying.

China’s Satellite Tooth Fairy

A local government branch in China posted that a new satellite could now detect when a child lost a tooth. It would then notify parents and automatically deduct the tooth fairy money from their bank account to give to the child. Parents were confused, kids got excited, and financial apps were flooded with questions. The government later admitted it was all a prank meant to promote space tech.

Ireland’s Leprechaun License Program

An Irish town issued official “leprechaun licenses” that allowed people to catch and release leprechauns found in local forests. The licenses were numbered, laminated, and came with rules like “don’t steal their gold.” Though the program was mostly a tourism stunt, the fact that it had government logos on it made people take it seriously until they saw the fine print.

France’s Floating Zebra Crossing

A French town painted a pedestrian crossing in a way that made it look 3D and appear to hover above the road. Drivers slowed down, thinking it was a real obstacle. The local council said it was to improve safety but later admitted they were just testing how many people would fall for it before April Fool’s Day ended. It actually worked so well that other towns started doing it too.

Finland’s “Silent Day” Law

A prank law was posted on Finland’s government website saying one day a year would now be a “Silent Day.” Talking in public would be banned for 24 hours. Restaurants were told to turn off music. Even birds would be “gently relocated” from noisy areas. Though clearly fake, the post got thousands of comments from both confused and amused readers. Some even asked for more Silent Days.

When Rules Take a Break

These pranks didn’t shake the world, but they did something else: they made people laugh, pause, and see the human side of systems we often find boring or strict. They show that even serious offices filled with paperwork and procedures can still hit “send” on a silly idea now and then. In a way, they’re reminders that not everything from the top has to be dry or stiff.

Even when the joke lasted only a day, the stories stuck. And that, for a moment, brought people and power a little closer, through laughter.

16 Funny Pranks From Government To Citizens