French traditions
April Fools’ Day – Poisson d’Avril is a very popular tradition in France when everyone has fun... and it is celebrated on April 1st!
That day - today!- all jokes, hoaxes and silly things are allowed!
Journalists read fake news (which they deny of course by the end of the program); children clip a paper fish in the back of their parents who lovingly ignore it and roam all day with the fish hanging on their back…they are great April Fools! Friends make funny jokes with each other...everyone is having a good-humoured day!!
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April Fools’ Day is believed to have originated in 1564 when King Charles IX decided to move the start of the year from April 1st to January 1st!
The traditional New Year Tip Day, when gifts were exchanged, had therefore to be moved as well but habits die hard; it took ages for people to adjust and decades later many still kept presenting their family and friends with gifts on April 1st.
The tradition never really disappeared but evolved as eventually people started to exchange fake gifts - in general food- and made fun of it!
And if you wonder why children use a fish on April Fools' Day... the answer is simple!
April 1st was encompassed in Lent, the 40-day period during which the consumption of meat was forbidden ... but not fish ... so people gave fish to their friends! Eventually "real" fish was replaced with fish-shaped cakes ...then paper fish and associated with jokes...
Enjoy your April Fools' Day!
To see more on Paris and France visit Travelfranceonline.com
April Fools’ Day – Poisson d’Avril is a very popular tradition in France when everyone has fun... and it is celebrated on April 1st!
That day - today!- all jokes, hoaxes and silly things are allowed!
Journalists read fake news (which they deny of course by the end of the program); children clip a paper fish in the back of their parents who lovingly ignore it and roam all day with the fish hanging on their back…they are great April Fools! Friends make funny jokes with each other...everyone is having a good-humoured day!!
April Fools’ Day is believed to have originated in 1564 when King Charles IX decided to move the start of the year from April 1st to January 1st!
The traditional New Year Tip Day, when gifts were exchanged, had therefore to be moved as well but habits die hard; it took ages for people to adjust and decades later many still kept presenting their family and friends with gifts on April 1st.
The tradition never really disappeared but evolved as eventually people started to exchange fake gifts - in general food- and made fun of it!
And if you wonder why children use a fish on April Fools' Day... the answer is simple!
April 1st was encompassed in Lent, the 40-day period during which the consumption of meat was forbidden ... but not fish ... so people gave fish to their friends! Eventually "real" fish was replaced with fish-shaped cakes ...then paper fish and associated with jokes...
Enjoy your April Fools' Day!
To see more on Paris and France visit Travelfranceonline.com