(This informative, trick-and-joke-free post was originally published April 1, 2008.)I’m not going to play any tricks on you today, even though it’s April 1st. I’ll leave it to your coworkers and children to create and execute some elaborate and annoying jokes.Instead, I’ll be informative.In France and French-speaking Belgium today, kids try to stick a paper fish on the back of a friend without him noticing it (if you want to offer a little cross-cultural lesson to your kiddoes, Crayola promotes the idea with a craft suggestion at this site). Then the kids shout “poisson d’avril” until the victim realizes he’s the goober walking around with a fish stuck on his back. The victim is the “poisson d’avril,” because he was “caught” by the joke, like a naive young fish. How Stuff Works offers a short explanation of this French tradition.But any little April Fool’s joke can be a “poisson d’avril.” Putting salt in sugar bowls and sugar in salt shakers, boy, those are classic. Or there’s the old water-on-the-door trick, where the bucket tips when the door is opened all the way. Whoopee cushions could be great for a grade school boy, or he could try the buzzer-handshake gadget. And today I saw one suggestion online that I’d never heard of before–putting toothpaste around the sides of an Oreo cookie.I’ll bet a few bloggers will make up a crazy story to see if they can catch you, like a fish, in their April Fool’s trick.My kinder, gentler approach is to to play no tricks, and yet keep with the French fish theme. I’m going to send you to a website for younger kids that I read about.It’s a French site called Poisson Rouge.It offers simple, interesting games for younger kids. Given that, some parents won’t want kids to be on screens at that age at all. But if your young one wants to do something fun online for a few minutes, this site is cute without selling anything (like Webkinz), nor do they offer advertising or marketing gimmicks tied in with other products (like Disney, Nick, Barbie, or Cartoon Network sites).Have a fun April Fool’s Day … and before sipping your tea this afternoon, be sure to check the sugar bowl.
To add to your information, do you know the french verbs “to fish” and “to sin”?
You wrote: “The victim is the “poisson d’avril,” because he was “caught” by the joke, like a naive young fish. ”
Perhaps he was caught by something else?
Thanks for the information. The ‘fish game’ sounds fun and is not a hurtful prank, like the ‘kick me’ signs that were popular when I was young. That was not fun and I did not participate. There were embarrassing ones too, all put on someones back and the victim has no idea.
My son just informed me that YouTube has a prank out. If you go to their home page and click on a photo, it takes you to the site but it is upside down. That is funny. They even have a ‘tip on how to use the new format’ when you get there. That is funny.
Have a great day. And thanks for the fish!
ehsiksnirahS
We *LOVE* Poisson Rouge. Excellent site. Except the first time my husband saw my daughter playing it, he said, “Why on earth is she playing at a site called RED POISON??” Because we’re just sophisticated like that.
Ah ha! Ann you have given me so many fun ideas for the weekend. The salt in the sugar bowl will be waiting for the weekend as I’m so delayed in my April Fools delinquency…this is sort of a foodie fun friday since I’m out of sugar and have not been to the market today. love this site…thank you.