1. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril There are many stories describing the history of Le Poisson d’Avril. It is a day for jokes, much like the American holiday for April Fool’s Day. Do you know what poisson means? Fish!

2. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril Today, French people traditionally place a sticker of fish on the back of a friend. It is comical because that person continues their day without the knowledge of having a fish on their back. Since everyone knows that a fish on a back is a joke, everyone thinks it is funny!

3. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril

4. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril One anecdote states that Charles IX, Roi de France, changed the date of the new year from le 1 er avril to le 1 er janvier in 1564.

5. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril Since people give small presents for New Year’s in France, many kept the tradition on le 1 er avril. Eventually, people decided that since le 1 er avril is a false new year’s, they decided to give false presents. Jokes became the replacement of presents.

6. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril Others say that the reason people place a fish on someone’s back, as opposed to an elephant or a mouse for example, is because April is when many fish reproduce.

7. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril Once someone has discovered a fish on their back, it is traditional to say “Poisson d’Avril!” much like we say “April Fools!”

8. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril

9. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril In France, people often eat chocolates in the shape of fish for Le Poisson d’Avril. Many make cakes in the shape of fish such as une tarte aux pommes.

10. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril

11. Avril Le Poisson d’Avril: le 1 er avril