I learned something new again in conversation with my "cube-mates" at work the other day. With April 1st around the corner we ended up talking about April fools day. Since our company has employees from all over the world, we began to ask around to see if April fools day was celebrated in other countries. We’d come to find out that April fools day is celebrated in a lot more places besides the US. Countries that celebrate the day range from Germany, France, Scotland, even Iraq! What surprised me the most was how April fools day came about in France. My French co-worker decided to dig a little deeper and look into Frances history of April fools... She found that it not only originated partially because of a religious association, but it was also recognized as April "Fish" day, here’s why......
Apparently sometime possibly around the 16th century in France, April fish day came about due to the religious practice of Lent. During lent consumption of meat was not allowed, so fish was usually eaten instead (yes I know, fish is meat too).With all the madness of only eating and fish and the amount of fish that was involved, fish related pranks arose. April 1st occurred near the end of lent and with the end of the restrictions landing on this day and all of the fishyness going around it is possible April 1st became deemed April Fish day. In some cases a fake fish would be offered, and whoever accepted the fake fish and did not realize it was fake would be labeled as a fool. The more widely known prank was to tape a paper fish to the back of the victim and once discovered the victim would then yell Poisson d’avril!!! Meaning, "April Fish!!!"
Apparently sometime possibly around the 16th century in France, April fish day came about due to the religious practice of Lent. During lent consumption of meat was not allowed, so fish was usually eaten instead (yes I know, fish is meat too).With all the madness of only eating and fish and the amount of fish that was involved, fish related pranks arose. April 1st occurred near the end of lent and with the end of the restrictions landing on this day and all of the fishyness going around it is possible April 1st became deemed April Fish day. In some cases a fake fish would be offered, and whoever accepted the fake fish and did not realize it was fake would be labeled as a fool. The more widely known prank was to tape a paper fish to the back of the victim and once discovered the victim would then yell Poisson d’avril!!! Meaning, "April Fish!!!"
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