“ I am willing to love all mankind, except an American.“ Samuel Johnson
April Fools Day began in France as Poisson d’Avril, or April-Fish. The tradition reputedly began in the year of Shakespeare’s birth, 1564, when Charles IX, an early science denier, suddenly decreed that the year no longer began with the advent of Spring on April 1st, but rather in January. Nine years later his court pundits opted to justify his bizarre claim with the Gregorian calendar.
Meanwhile, the befuddled masses, frustrated by the ignorant whims of their confused ruler, and who understood the lived reality the new year was better celebrated on April 1st rather than in the dead of winter, decided to maintain the old tradition of gift giving.
Soon the tradition evolved into a sardonic little ceremony designed to highlight the stupidity of the King. On every April 1rst, fishmongers throughout France would tell unsuspecting customers that, due to the king’s new calendar, out-of-season fish were now suddenly in season. Anyone gullible enough to believe the ridiculous story had a little paper fish pinned to their back. For the rest of the day they were then teased by passersby with the phrase “Poisson d’Avril” or April Fish. 