How Did April Fools' Day Start And What Are Some Famous Pranks?

CBS Los Angeles

April 1, 2024

Historians aren't pulling your leg when they say no one is quite sure about the origins of April Fools' Day.

April 1, the annual day of shenanigans, pranks, tricks and hoaxes, falls on Monday this year. While historians are unsure of the exact source of the tradition, they do know the custom goes back centuries, at least back to Renaissance Europe and possibly back to Roman times. Here's a look at what the experts say.

Some believe April Fools' Day dates back to Hilaria festivals celebrated during classical Roman times. The festival was held on March 25 which, in Roman terms, was called the "eighth of the Calends of April," according to the Library of Congress.

Click here for the full story via CBS Los Angeles

CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.