Catching Up: le premier avril
Bonjour les amis! I've missed you! Je m'excuse--I'm sorry I didn't write more last month. I've been planning our summer séjour in France, with a 5-day stopover in another country on the way (any guesses as to which country? I'll give you a few hints as our departure approaches!).
Today is le premier avril (April 1st). In France and some francophone countries (as well as Italy), today is known as April fish day because children try to tape paper fish on the backs of unsuspecting people. When their prank is discovered, they cry, "Poisson d'avril!" (April fish!). Adults find humor in the spoof news articles printed alongside real news in the daily papers, though some adults still enjoy the joys of sticking paper fish where they can:
A "free hug" prank in Paris (photo by Thomas Hahusseau)
A fish on the statue of Vénus sculpted by Aristide Maillol, Jardin des Tuileries, Paris (photo by Bernard Laguerre)
If you'd like to know more about April Fool's Day in France, Geraldine from Comme Une Française has made a brief video in English about it:
My French students drew their own paper fish, but you'll find some fun poisson d'avril printables at tfou.fr and des p'tits rien créations:
Have you ever been the perpetrator or the victim of a memorable April prank? Pranks can be cruel but April Fool's Day can simply be a day to bring more laughter into our lives.
“A merry heart does good like medicine.”
Tomorrow I'll post what our family has done and will do to celebrate Maudy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. (It's an odd transition with Easter following so quickly on the heels of April 1st this year.) A bientôt--see you soon!