April Fools Day in Italy: Pesce d’Aprile

April 1st is celebrated by pranksters in many countries as April Fools Day and even Italy has its own version of April Fools known as Pesce d’Aprile. In other words, instead of April Fools, Italy has April Fish.

Jokes and pranks are common in Italy but one in particular is classic and explains why the holiday is called April Fish:

You draw a small fish on a piece of paper, cut it out, and tape it on your friend’s back without them noticing. It’s all done a bit in the way you might try to stick a small “kick me” sign where your friend can’t see or reach it.

The poor friend becomes the April Fool, walking around with a Pesce – fish – taped to his or her back until someone asks:

L’hai visto? (Have you seen him?)

The target will answer: Chi? (Who?)

And you tell them: Il pesce d’Aprile! (The April fish)

The person with the fish on their back then realizes that they have been had! 

Will you try out this Italian April Fools joke today?

2 thoughts on “April Fools Day in Italy: Pesce d’Aprile

  1. Isabelle Lantieri says:

    It is funny ! It is the same in France and today I taught my students ( here in Boston) how to do it ! They loved it !

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