The internet page print: www.liu.englishon-line.com/gb
Level 3 – IntermediateApril Fool's Day
On 1st April, it is traditional in Britain and America to play tricks on other people. The idea is to have a good laugh at the expense of someone else. The tricks should be good fun and never designed to hurt or humiliate anyone. If the victim falls for the trick, you call him or her an "April Fool".
This tradition is very old and dates back to sixteenth-century France, when people celebrated the New Year on 1st April. In 1562 Pope Gregory introduced a new Christian calendar, so that the New Year then fell on 1st January. But many people ignored the new calendar and went on celebrating New Year on 1st April; other people played tricks on them and called them April Fools.
Today it is a tradition for French children to stick paper fish on the backs of their friends or teachers. When the person discovers the fish, they shout "Poisson d'Avril!" or "April Fish!"