The earliest April Fools’ Day hoax on record was in 1698, when people in London were told to go see the annual ceremony of the washing of the lions.

Learn when April Fools' Day 2026 is, where the holiday may have come from and how prank traditions spread over time.

While it is widely believed that April Fools' Day may have roots back in ancient Rome or Britain, clear references to the April tradition do not appear until the late Middle Ages, according to Stephen ...