National Laugh-Friendly Month is celebrated in February every year. The month-long celebration was established by ee Publishing and Production in 2008. The aim of the month is to encourage businesses to focus their customer service policies to cultivate laughter. An additional objective is to remind grown-ups, specifically, about the joy of laughter and how wonderful it is. Unfortunately, it’s common for displays of joy to be frowned upon in formal settings. National Laugh-Friendly Month aims to increase the acceptability of laughter in different situations. February, thus, has become an opportunity to make people laugh with kind humor.
History of National Laugh-Friendly Month
Laughter is a physical reaction that involves rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm. It is often a response to stimuli, whether internal or external, and can be elicited from activities like being tickled or told a joke. It is, culturally, seen as an auditory expression of many, mostly positive, emotions. The study of humor and laughter is called gelotology.Laughter has often been a subject of great interest in literature across human history. During ancient times, the Greek historian Herodotus propounded that laughers could be organized into three categories; those innocent of wrongdoing but ignorant of vulnerability, those who are insane, and those who are overconfident. Whenever reporting laughter, Herodotus did so in the belief that it informs the readers of the person’s future or character.Theories of humor and laughter have been put forth by many philosophers and researchers in the modern world. Hobbes believed that “The passion of laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly;” Schopenhauer wrote of laughter extensively; Nietzsche pondered upon the utility of laughter; Bergson put forth his beliefs about the causes of humorous situations, and Ludovici worked to develop Hobbes’ theory further, whilst considering it an evolutionary trait. Today, laughter is considered to have its biological roots in a “shared expression of relief at the passing of danger.”
National Laugh-Friendly Month timeline
Humans first start laughing.
Herodotus explains the three types of laughers.
William F. Fry founds gelotology, the study of laughter.
ee Publishing and Production establishes National Laugh-Friendly Month.
National Laugh Friendly Month FAQs
What is the plural of laughter?
The plural is laughters.
Is ‘laugh’ a word?
Yes, it is.
What is the countable form of laughter?
Laugh, e.g. three laughs.
National Laugh-Friendly Month Activities
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Tell jokes
National Laugh-Friendly Month is all about laughing and making others laugh. Tell a joke or two.
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Watch a comedy film
Give yourself some time to sit back and relax. Watch a comedy film or two to get your laughing flowing.
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Attend a comedy show
Support a budding stand-up comedian or an established one you like and attend a comedy show. Get your friends to come along as well!
5 Interesting Facts About Laughter
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Laughter before speech
Scientists believe that humans began laughing before we developed speech.
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Not just humans
Rats, monkeys, cats, and dogs are also known to laugh.
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A natural painkiller
Laughter can help reduce pain.
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Not just jokes
Human laughter is normally used as a social response rather than a reaction to jokes.
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Laughs per a day
An average individual laughs 13 times a day!
Why We Love National Laugh-Friendly Month
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It’s an excuse to make people laugh
Making people genuinely laugh is a great feeling. National Laugh-Friendly Month is a perfect opportunity to do it more.
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It’s a reminder to lighten up
Life can be stressful. National Laugh-Friendly Month is a great reminder to lighten up once in a while.
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It’s an opportunity to build more comfortable work environments
National Laugh-Friendly Month can help make work environments more comfortable. Sharing jokes with others is a fast way to become friends and build trust.
National Laugh-Friendly Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | February 1 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | February 1 | Thursday |
| 2025 | February 1 | Saturday |
| 2026 | February 1 | Sunday |
| 2027 | February 1 | Monday |
