The name 'Pesce d'Aprile' literally means 'April Fish'. The origin of this name is not entirely clear, but there are several theories. The most common one links the name to the behaviour of the fish: fish are often easy to catch in April because they take the bait, symbolising how easy it is to 'catch' someone.
In Italy, Pesce d'Aprile is the occasion for small and harmless pranks, often accompanied by laughter and cries of "Pesce d'Aprile!". A typical joke is, for example, the secret pinning of a paper fish on the back of an unsuspecting victim, who only notices it thanks to the laughter of those around him. This prank is particularly popular with children, who enjoy practising it at school or at home.
spaghetti on a tree
The media is often involved in April Fools' pranks, coming up with fake news or unbelievable stories. Every year, Italians enjoy a moment when they have to think about what's real and what's a well-prepared joke.
A much-hyped April Fool's joke was performed by the BBC in 1957, and it was partly about Italy. It was a short documentary about a Swiss farming family who had managed to control the spaghetti weevil and were now harvesting an extraordinary crop of spaghetti as a result. At the time, Italian pasta was an exotic delicacy in England and many people easily believed that spaghetti was simply grown on trees. People then continued to call the television for the next few days to see where they could get spaghetti tree seedlings.
You can watch the video documentary here.
Pesce d'Aprile is not an official holiday, but for Italians it is a welcome change to everyday life. The laughter the day brings is a famous Italian way of celebrating the joy of life - la dolce vita - even in the smallest things.
So when you're in Italy on April 1, keep your eyes peeled and watch out for paper fish! And if you want to catch someone yourself, don't forget to end your joke with "Pesce d'Aprile!".
