APRIL FOOLS’ DAY: but why jokes… and a fish?
Pink flamingos coming to the Zoo de Granby for the 2026 summer season: did you fall for our April Fools’ joke, even just for a few seconds?
Every year, April 1st arrives with its share of surprises, fake news, and lighthearted pranks. And, true to tradition, there’s almost always a fish involved somewhere in the story… stuck to someone’s back, hidden in a message, or slipped into a joke.
But where does this curious tradition actually come from? And more importantly, why a fish?
A tradition that goes way back… centuries back
The origins of April Fools’ Day are neither singular nor entirely clear. Like many popular traditions, it has been shaped over time, somewhere between history and folklore. One of the most widely accepted explanations dates back to 16th-century France. At the time, the New Year wasn’t celebrated on January 1st, but rather around the arrival of spring, often between late March and early April.
In 1564, King Charles IX officially moved New Year’s Day to January 1st. Not everyone adapted right away, and some people continued celebrating the old date… becoming easy targets for mockery. People began offering them fake gifts or playing tricks on them.
In short, the first April 1st pranks may simply have been the result of a calendar change!
And what about the fish?
This brings us to the big question: why a fish?
Several theories exist, but two stand out in particular. First, there’s the connection to Lent, a period during which eating meat was often restricted. Fish became a common food, but also a symbol. Giving someone a “fake fish” or making jokes involving fish became a playful way to poke fun at these dietary customs.
Another explanation relates to the natural calendar. Early April often coincided with a time when fishing was limited, as fish were in their breeding season. Catching them was more difficult, and fishermen would sometimes return empty-handed. This may have led to the idea of offering “fake fish” to gently tease them about their (lack of) catch.
Over time, the fish became the emblem of the day, especially in French-speaking countries. Even today, children love cutting out paper fish and sticking them on the backs of unsuspecting adults… or those willing to play along!
A day dedicated to humour
Over the centuries, April Fools’ Day has evolved far beyond simple neighbourly pranks. Media outlets, businesses, and institutions now join in with elaborate and sometimes highly convincing announcements.
It has become a collective game: testing our critical thinking while accepting, just for fun, that we might be fooled.
A tradition that makes us smile (even after the fact!)
And now that April 1st has almost passed, maybe you managed to avoid the traps… or maybe you fell for a particularly well-crafted joke.
Either way, whether you love it or roll your eyes at it, this day has something special: it reminds us to laugh, not to take everything too seriously… and to accept, once in a while, being “the fish.”
After all, if your April 1st starts with a smile, then the mission was probably accomplished.
