In Italy, what is April Fools' Day often called?

In Italy, April Fools’ Day is often called Pesce d’aprile.

The Italian phrase literally means “April fish,” and it refers both to the day and to the person who is successfully tricked. The expression is commonly written with an apostrophe in “d’aprile,” linking pesce, or fish, with April. It is the standard Italian name rather than a translation such as “April Fool’s Day.”

The fish image is also part of the prank tradition. In Italy, a practical joke may involve attaching a paper fish to someone’s back without being noticed, making the victim an “April fish.” This custom parallels the French poisson d’avril, which has the same literal meaning and is associated with April 1 pranks.

The broader origin of April Fools’ Day remains uncertain. Historians have proposed connections with calendar changes, spring festivals, and older traditions of sending people on foolish errands. Those theories concern the celebration’s development; they do not change the Italian name, which is the canonical answer to this question.