april fool differences

[piptik]

Hey, my German friend thinks we're stupid for stopping doing practical jokes at midday - apparently our continental cousins carry on fooling each other for the duration - any idea where the midday turn round of fool and foolee comes from in the UK?

[firefly]

I think this was designed to stop too much annoying jokes, but noone seems to take much notice of it anyway.

[smudge]

I always thought that 'Pinch, punch, first day of the month' stopped after mid-day. Not sure about April Fool jokes though? 

[Octavius]

Never heard it stopping at midday, maybe people just get bored with it after a few hours.

[ali_alic]

Nope, it definately stops at mid-day.  Well thats the way I was brought up with it, anything after that then the "foolee" is the Fooled!!

[elgroucho]

I agree with ali_alic, it stops at noon.

[piptik]

so no reason apart from convenience and to stop too much annoyance?