Italy-wide, pranks, jokes and tricks are underway, marking a national festa called “April Fish”, or April Fools.  This centuries-old celebration appears to be associated with the vernal equinox, which prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, was observed as New Year by many cultures, and usually occured between March 25 to April 1, this till the Gregorian reforms moved it back to January 1.  From France came the early tradition of delivering empty gift parcels, an April Fool’s joke… a Pesce d’Aprile.