Ah, April Fools’ Day, one of the best unofficial holidays of the calendar. It’s the perfect day to fact-check everything you see, whether it’s online or not, since you never know when people are trying to swindle you. On every other day of the year, feel free to fall victim to fake news and emails from Nigerian princes.
Although April Fools’ Day might seem pretty modern, its roots are actually deeply ingrained in history. For centuries, people from across the globe have been trying to do one better than their peers. While the exact origins of April Fools’ are unknown, there are plenty of historical records that show how our ancestors would celebrate the prankster’s holiday.
Cybele Cult’s Hilaria Day
April Fools’ has been linked back to the Hilaria festivals, which was celebrated in Rome on the tail-end of March. A Cybele cult celebrated the occasion by dressing up and mocking other people, including political figures. Some claim that this celebration drew inspiration from the Ancient Egyptian deities Isi, Osiris, and Seth.