{"id":235024,"date":"2025-04-01T06:56:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T06:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/pesce-aprile\/"},"modified":"2025-04-01T07:20:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T07:20:51","slug":"april-fool-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/april-fool-day\/","title":{"rendered":"April Fool&#8217;s Day Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"96\"><span class=\"font-377884\">April Fool&#8217;s Day Traditions<\/span><\/h1>\n<h3 data-start=\"98\" data-end=\"493\"><span class=\"font-377884\"><em>April Fools&#8217; Day, a day dedicated to pranks and hoaxes celebrated every year on 1 April, is a tradition that crosses cultural boundaries, awakening the creativity and humour of people of all ages.<\/em> <\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_235013\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-235013\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-235013 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295.jpg\" alt=\"April Fools' Day Image by Alexa from Pixabay\" width=\"840\" height=\"442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295-1024x539.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295-1536x808.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-Image-by-Alexa-from-Pixabay-e1743429406295-350x184.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-235013\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"font-377884\">April Fools&#8217; Day Image by Alexa from Pixabay<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"font-377884\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\">April Fools&#8217; Day<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">How kind of you,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">you can eat the April fish with pleasure.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Come, let&#8217;s go to the market and buy it<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Then I&#8217;ll teach you how to cook it<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">You grill one piece,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Enjoy it with you and your family.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Another you make with meat sauce,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">but only you eat that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Look at the moon, look at the stars,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">this fish may bring you luck,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">who knows? Maybe it does,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Maybe it&#8217;s just a light thought.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">But beware! It&#8217;s full of bones,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">if you eat it, you&#8217;ll choke,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">watch out, you&#8217;ll choke!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Have you finished reading?<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Curious you were,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">you found a nice fish.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">But don&#8217;t you remember what day it is?<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Surprise! It&#8217;s April Fools&#8217; Day!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" data-start=\"523\" data-end=\"668\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Zaira Sellerio<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>April Fools&#8217; Day<\/strong> is a widespread tradition in several countries around the world, characterised by pranks played <strong>on 1 April.<\/strong> The origins of the tradition are uncertain, but among the most accredited theories are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>16th century France:<\/strong> with the reform of the Gregorian calendar (1582), New Year&#8217;s Day was moved from 1 April to 1 January. Out of mockery, empty parcels began to be given as gifts, giving rise to the custom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Ancient Rome<\/strong>: the feast of Hilaria (25 March) and the myth of Proserpine, deceived in her quest by her mother Ceres.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Holland (1572):<\/strong> the capture of the city of Brielle and the saying \u2018Op 1 april verloor Alva zijn bril\u2019 (Dawn lost her glasses).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Middle Ages:<\/strong> the legend of a pope saved from a fish thorn thanks to the patriarch of Aquileia, the blessed Bertrando di San Genesio, who banned the consumption of fish on 1 April.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"font-377884\">In many countries, jokes are revealed with typical expressions<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\">In <strong>Italy, France and Belgium<\/strong>, the tradition is known as<em> Pesce d&#8217;aprile<\/em> or <em>Poisson d&#8217;Avril<\/em>, and it is customary to stick a paper fish on the victim&#8217;s back.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\">In the <strong>UK<\/strong>, those who suffer a prank are called April Fools and the pranks stop at midday.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\">In <strong>Scotland<\/strong>, Huntigowk Day is celebrated, with puns and card-cranks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\">In <strong>Spain<\/strong> and <strong>Latin America,<\/strong> the equivalent is <em>Dia de los Tontos<\/em> or <em>D\u00eda de los Santos Inocentes<\/em> (28 December).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_235017\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-235017\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-1024x684.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-235017\" src=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"April Fools\u2019 Day\" width=\"840\" height=\"561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day-350x234.jpg 350w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/April-Fools-Day.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-235017\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"font-377884\">Pesce d&#8217;Aprile &#8211; April Fools\u2019 Day<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"font-377884\">How April Fools&#8217; Day is celebrated around the world<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"font-377884\">1 April is a day of jokes and pranks celebrated in many countries, with different traditions and customs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">Europe<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Switzerland<\/strong> and <strong>Italy<\/strong>: Pranks involve friends, family and the media. Children attach paper fish to people&#8217;s backs, or the media spread false news.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>United Kingdom<\/strong> and <strong>Ireland<\/strong>: Pranks are only played until midday; whoever is fooled after that time becomes the \u2018fool\u2019 himself. The media also participate with absurd news.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">America<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>United States:<\/strong> It is very popular, with media, companies and celebrities spreading elaborate hoaxes. Social media amplify the pranks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Latin America:<\/strong> Although the traditional day for pranks is 28 December (D\u00eda de los Santos Inocentes), 1 April is also celebrated with hoaxes and fake news.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">Asia<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Japan<\/strong> and <strong>China<\/strong>: The tradition is not rooted, but is growing thanks to social media. The pranks are more discreet than in the West.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>India<\/strong>: It is becoming more and more popular among young people, with pranks spread especially in schools and on social media.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">Oceania<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Australia<\/strong> and <strong>New Zealand:<\/strong> Similar to the UK, with pranks between friends and fake news spread by the media.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"font-377884\">Famous April Fool&#8217;s Day pranks around the world<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">USA<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>The Left-Handed Whopper (1998):<\/strong> Burger King announced the Left-Handed Whopper, a left-handed sandwich with ingredients rotated 180 degrees. Many customers actually ordered it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">United Kingdom<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Digital Big Ben (1980):<\/strong> The BBC declared that the iconic clock would go digital and that the hands would be given away to the first people who called.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>The Spaghetti Harvest (1957)<\/strong>: The BBC broadcast a report on spaghetti trees in Switzerland. At the time, many Britons did not know how pasta was produced and believed it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">Italy<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Le targhe per i cavalli (1961):<\/strong> The newspaper La Notte published the false news of a new obligation for horses to have a number plate in Milan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">France<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Moving Eiffel Tower (1986):<\/strong> The newspaper Le Parisien announced that the Eiffel Tower, symbol of Paris and the whole of France, would be dismantled and moved to Disneyland. In its place, a 35,000-seat stadium would be built, ready to host the 1992 Olympic Games.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"font-377884\">Norway<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Surplus wine (1950)<\/strong>: The newspaper Aftenposten reported that Norway had imported more wine than could be bottled and that it would be sold in bulk to those who brought suitable containers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"font-377884\">Switzerland<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>Fondue ice cream (2019):<\/strong> The Manor department store announced fondue ice cream, with pieces of crusty bread and a coating of mature cheese.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"font-377884\"><strong>The square coin (2017):<\/strong> The Federal Mint Swissmint claimed to have created a 50 franc square coin, an idea so unusual that many believed it to be true.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"font-377884\">April Fools&#8217; Day is a tradition celebrated all over the world, whether it is innocent pranks, viral hoaxes on social media or unbelievable stories spread by newspapers, 1 April remains a unique day when humour takes centre stage, crossing cultural boundaries and making everyone share in a collective smile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/k16trade.ch\/seqex-en\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-230949 size-medium aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-300x145.png\" alt=\"K16 TRADE &amp; CONSULTING SWITZERLAND\" width=\"300\" height=\"145\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-1024x495.png 1024w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-768x371.png 768w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer-350x169.png 350w, https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FullLogo_Transparent_NoBuffer.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April Fools&#8217; Day, a day dedicated to pranks and hoaxes celebrated every year on 1 April, is a tradition that crosses cultural boundaries, awakening the creativity and humour of people of all ages. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":235014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2275,2330,258,1344,271,260,302,2103,288,210,257,792,1030,2463],"tags":[651,405,1792,660,2492,1880,887,1468,1092,2468],"class_list":["post-235024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-america-en","category-asia-en","category-culture","category-curiosity","category-europe","category-highlights","category-history","category-italian-culture","category-italy","category-magazine","category-switzerland","category-united-kingdom","category-usa-en","category-zairas-corner","tag-america-en","tag-europe","tag-history","tag-italy","tag-poem","tag-recurrence","tag-switzerland-en","tag-traditions","tag-united-kingdom","tag-zaira-sellerio-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235024"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":235028,"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235024\/revisions\/235028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/235014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=235024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=235024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}