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Published 30 March 2025 by Leyla Alyanak — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion
As April first rolls around, a peculiar excitement fills the air in France. Mischievous children cut out paper fish, while adults brace for the inevitable pranks. This is "Poisson d'Avril," or April Fish Day, France's unique take on April Fools' Day.
I remember as a little girl being allowed to use blunt scissors to cut out fish shapes that I would then be permitted to stick on the backs of friends and family. To make them stick, we used that little adhesive tape trick − cut off a piece, then make a little circle to stick the two ends together.
No one was spared.
I took my fish to school, ready to pin my schoolfriends without mercy.
A few of the more daring students, usually boys, would occasionally go overboard − using something a little more permanent than tape, or heavens, colored fish! Some would even try their hand on a teacher or two...
No one escapes.
Once you find the fish on your own back, all you have to do is yell: "Poisson d'avril!"
In other words, April Fish.
Poisson d’avril means “April fish” — but why a fish, and why April?
There are several theories.
One popular explanation goes back to 1564, when King Charles IX reformed the calendar, moving the start of the year from late March to 1 January. Those who continued to celebrate the old New Year on 1 April became targets of ridicule, receiving mock gifts and invitations to nonexistent events.
In these early versions of the tradition, victims might be sent on fool’s errands or handed fake fish as a joke, giving rise to the name Poisson d’Avril.
This theory may be popular, but historians can’t agree.
Others point to the end of Lent, a period of fasting when meat was forbidden and fish often replaced it. Offering someone a fake fish could have been a tongue-in-cheek reference to this tradition.
The astrological sign Pisces, symbolized by two fish, ends around 20 March. Could this lingering imagery have influenced the use of fish in early April pranks?
Or perhaps it stems from the start of fishing season in France. In April, fish are still young and easily caught — so calling someone a Poisson d’Avril may have meant they were as gullible as a fish caught too easily.
The phrase itself appears as early as the 15th century in French literature, including the satirical poem Le Livre de la Déablerie (1507), where poisson d’avril is used in a mocking tone.
Whatever the origin, the tradition stuck.
To this day, French children delight in cutting out paper fish and sneakily placing them on people’s backs, waiting for the moment of discovery.
Over the years, France has witnessed some pretty outrageous pranks on April 1st, often orchestrated by the media. Here are a few of the most legendary ones:
By and large, these pranks are harmless and usually witty, lightening up a normal day and egging us towards a good-natured laugh.
If you’re in France on April 1st, you might be tempted to join in the fun. And in case you're short on ideas, here are a few classic but harmless pranks that will make people smile without offense.
As I said... utterly benign and harmless!
While Poisson d’Avril is much loved, it’s not a public holiday in France, so no one gets the day off. But it is popular, especially among children, who take their fish-cutting mission very seriously. Schools even encourage the tradition, and teachers often play along.
For adults, the day is mostly about media hoaxes and workplace pranks. In some cities, particularly Paris and Lyon, you’ll see elaborate practical jokes in the media and online. In Nice, the traditional daily noon cannon blast is moved an hour earlier on April 1st as a playful prank on the locals.
The fish aren't only on your back — they're also in pâtisserie windows, because any excuse is a good excuse for chocolate!
So if you find yourself in France on April 1st, keep an eye on your back (so to speak). You never know when someone might try to turn you into a Poisson d’Avril! And remember, this is humor at its most understated, rooted in satire, not sales, designed to be lighthearted, creative and fun.