“Poisson d’ Avril”

~ JoHanna Massey

We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.”             Japanese Proverb

 April 1 was traditionally celebrated by French children with the creation of paper fish. The children then stuck the fish to the backs of as many adults as possible, while dancing  away calling “Poisson d’Avril” (April Fish)

April Fools Day is believed to have originated in 16th century when King Charles XIV turned from the Roman Calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Historically New Years had always been celebrated March 25 through April 1. Citizens who weren’t told the news  or who chose to retain the old ways on April 1st were made fun of as ‘fools’

I have embraced this day set aside for silly,  joining in with a slightly changed version of the French Celebration. These are images of  channeled Sedona Vortex High Desert  Fish  I have made manifest and  send them out into the universe today to wish you “Poisson d’ Avril!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School of fish

Travel well this weekend everyone. All my best and highest to you.
Today’s Music: Best French Dance & House Music 2012 Mix#7

25 thoughts on ““Poisson d’ Avril””

  1. As a child, I heard the Japanese saying posed as an interrogative — “Who is more foolish: the fool who happily dances, or the fool who dances-not for fear of appearing as a fool?”

    I like the fish — think I might make a few next year. 😉

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  2. I liked the paper fish idea from France, along with dancing. I enjoyed your pretty paintings, Johanna.
    When Lenten season begins in our church, they pass out fish. My children used to put their lunch or allowance change into these cardboard fish. We would think of the disciples who came from the sea, fishermen, to follow His footsteps.

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    1. I believe that this paper fish to the back and a hearty “Poisson d’ Avril’ will be incorporated into all of my April Fools’ Day from this point forward. Your kind words always appreciated. XOX 🐞

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Bernadette. My mother did wonderful oil paintings, and my sister does fabulous watercolors. Alas, I paint the Flying Sedona Vortex Fish.
      All my best to you Bernadette, and have an excellent weekend. 🐞

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    1. Oh that is an interesting question.I do enjoy word origins.
      According Word to Dictionary.Com the word phish comes from the word phreak

      “1972, originally in phone phreak, one of a set of technically creative people who electronically hacked or defrauded telephone companies of the day.

      The phreaks first appeared on the US scene in the early 1960s, when a group of MIT students were found to have conducted a late night dialing experiment on the Defense Department’s secret network. They were rewarded with jobs when they explained their system to Bell investigators. … The name “phone phreak” identified the enthusiasts with the common underground usage of freak as someone who was cool and used drugs. [“New Scientist,” Dec. 13, 1973]

      The ph- in phone may have suggested the alteration, and this seems to be the original of the 1990s slang fad for substituting ph- for f- (e.g. phat).

      Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

      Thank you for stopping by, and have an excellent weekend. 🐞

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    1. Oh, the photos of this trip are going to be a very great treat for the followers of your most beautiful website: http://wandering-through-time-and-place.me/.

      It will be especially wonderful for me to see what you capture of this area that is familiar to me.

      It’s very much warmer once you drive down the Oak Creek Canyon off the Colorado Plateau from Flagstaff.

      All my best to you and Peggy. Happy Trails.

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      1. Thanks. JoHanna! My bike trip, alas, took me down 40 to Holman and then down to Springerville, before I entered New Mexico and biked across the Rockies. I missed much of the Southwest that I love so much. But on a 10,000 mile bike trip, one doesn’t take too many detours. 🙂 –Curt

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  10. Thank you! Smiling I am with your wonderful paintings! Did not know the history of this day — opened my email to a notice from my alma mater that there was structural damage to the dome of Old Main — the beloved oldest building on the campus and that wrecking crews had removed it yesterday. Was reading with consternation until I realized in was April Fools’ Day! 🙂
    Think I prefer the fish! 🙂

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    1. Good Friday Morning Lillian. I assume we are having coffee together.

      I’ve never been a big fan of April Fools Day, but I was genuinely enamored with the French Childrens’ paper fish fun, and embraced the idea of doing something silly for the Website.

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