This week we're exploring what is, quite possibly, the weirdest and most mysterious of all the holidays: April Fools' Day. The real trick? No one even knows where this holiday came from or why we celebrate it. We'll dive in to some of the origin theories, from ancient Rome to medieval fables to Renaissance poetry. We'll also take a look how the holiday has evolved throughout time, including some of the greatest pranks ever pulled on April Fools' Day.
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Sources:
- Library of Congress Blogs "April Fools: The Roots of an International Holiday"
- History.com "April Fools' Day"
- NPR "April Fools' Day might be the world's longest running joke. No one knows how it began"
- A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities
- BU Today "How a BU Prof April-Fooled the Country"
- Encyclopedia Britannica "Julian Calendar"
- History.com "9 Outrageous Pranks in History"
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