Not to sound like a jackass, but as far as I’m concerned, pulling pranks on April Fool’s Day is like drinking on St. Patrick’s Day. Amateur hour.

I mean, look: It’s still fun and all, and I don’t begrudge anyone the right to do it, but I’d much rather prank people on one of the 364 other days of the year when they’re not expecting it.

I am a fan of massive hoaxes in general, though, and many of the best in history have come on this day. This list runs down the Top 100 April Fool’s Day pranks of all-time, and amazingly, the top four involve several of my very favorite things: Italian food, the Mets, television and Taco Bell.

Taco Bell’s entry to the April Fool’s canon? I quote:

1996: The Taco Bell Corporation announced it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger.

Awe-some. Doubly awesome, because it not only involved hilarious Taco Bell branding, but also a prank on the city of Philadelphia, which was totally asking for it.

The Museum of Hoaxes article on the incident has more:

National Park Service Director Roger Kennedy described the ad as being “as false as it is cheesy.” The New York Daily News said it “fell flat as a dumbbell.”

Mark Schoenrock delivered a scathing critique in the Washington Times:

“To appropriate one of the cherished symbols of our national heritage and use it as part of some cheap, thoughtless advertising ploy is totally disgusting. To use this sacred symbol as part of some silly game is an affront to generations of proud Americans who have fought and died for this country’s freedom – so proudly represented by the Liberty Bell . Apparently this doesn’t matter to Taco Bell officials – or maybe they just don’t get it.”

Robble robble robble! SANCTIMONY! I’m so angry at Taco Bell!

Nothing symbolizes our country’s freedom better than Taco Bell.