Sticky Fish and April Fools
I really wanted to think of a good April Fool's Day joke to play on you all in this blog, but unfortunately I've got nothing. And I'm not saying that just to disarm you.
Playing an April Fools Day joke on a blog basically means coming up with a really entertaining lie, which is a bit tricky, because if you succeed in convincing your readers, the misinformation continues to travel long after April 1st. Then the writer becomes a "big fat liar" instead of a just a "fun prankster." Plus it's gotten to the point where no one trusts much of anything they read online on the first of April. Which kind of makes April Fools Day feel like a day off for bloggers!
So just to be clear, Google did not really permanently change it's name to Topeka or invent a device that can translate animal noises to English (shoot!)
Different versions of April Fools Day have been going on, around the world, for a long time. For instance, people were celebrating "April Fish" day in France back in the early 1500's. On April Fish day, you celebrated by sticking a fish to someone's back without them knowing it.
Sidenote: I love how several articles I found all talked about that tradition in France, yet didn't address the fact of how you would actually stick a fish to someone's back. Even if you just were able to walk up to someone and stealthily put a fish on their back, wouldn't it just fall off? It's not like a Post-It Note "Kick Me" sign with built-in adhesive. Or maybe dead fish were the Post-It Notes of 16th century France. I think I'm spending too much time trying to figure this out.
Enjoy the rest of your April Fools Day! Here's a cute April Fool's Day dessert recipe I'll be trying tonight! And if you happen to run into any experts in French history, please ask them about the whole fish-sticking thing for me.
- Brigitte
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Comments
David Thursday, April 01, 2010
I would think I would notice if somebody stuck a fish on my back.
romeo Friday, April 02, 2010
apricots oddly enough reminds me of weddings or a reasonably formal aperitif for an engagement proposal.. :)
bon appetit
Esther Friday, April 02, 2010
Hi!
Ever heard of the infamous April Fool's hoax about the spaghetti trees? I bet people believed it in 1957! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ugSKW4-QQ
Blargal Friday, April 02, 2010
Hello,Brigitte.
In the best case scenario, a really well crafted April Fool's Day joke, can become urban legend. Or a viral video if carried on on a video camera. Whether this is something you would strive for, is hard to believe.
Morgane Saturday, April 03, 2010
Hi,
I'm one of your french readers, that's a nice article (as usual). I feel like I should explain the fish thing.
Fortunately I've been able to avoid it this year, but what usually happens on April Fool's day is that you draw several fishes on a paper, then you cut it and put a piece of scotch on the top. Then when someone comes to say hi, you just pretend you're suddenly needing for affection, you hug him and you stick the fish meanwhile (or you just fake that this person had a hair or something on its jacket).
Anyway, there's no way dead fish were our post-it, even long time ago :p (but maybe it was your way to make a subliminal April fool's joke^^)
Take care,
Morgane
Brigitte Thursday, April 08, 2010
Hi Morgane!! Thanks for explaining! :) The paper fish thing actually sounds fun! Maybe I'll try to be in France one April Fool's Day!