World Laughter Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of May, and this year it is celebrated on May 7. Shrill or funny, giggly or bubbly, on this day, let out your laughter and laugh to your heart’s content. As Shakespeare said, “With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come.” We want you to spend your life with laughter and joy. Did you know that laughter decreases stress? By laughing, the brain releases endorphins which make one feel happy. So do not let anyone dampen your day, and laugh as much as you want.
History of World Laughter Day
The first World Laughter Day gathering took place in Mumbai, India, on January 11, 1998. Around 12,000 members from the international laughter clubs attended the event and laughed on this joyous day. It was followed by “Happy-demic,” the first world laughter day celebrated outside India. The event was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 9, 2000, and around 10,000 people attended, putting it in the “Guinness Book of World Records.”The history of laughter is very intriguing. Origins of laughter can be traced back 10 million years ago. Laughter is linked to high pain tolerance and even social status, but the primary function of laughter appears to be to create profound social bonds. As the ancient ancestors started to live life in complex social structures, the quality of relationships became crucial for them to survive.There is a book supposed to be the one in which King Philip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, requested an Athenian social club to write down all its member’s funniest jokes and send them to him. Athenaios of Naukratis, a 2 A.D. Greek writer, mentions the book’s existence, but the book did not survive to the present day.
World Laughter Day timeline
The origin of laughter is traced back 10 million years ago.
Philip II of Macedonia requests the social club to write down their funniest jokes.
Written around 16,000 years ago, “Philogelos” contains 265 jokes.
World Laughter Day is held on January 11, 1998, in Mumbai, India.
World Laughter Day FAQs
Why is World Laughter Day Celebrated?
This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the health benefits of laughter.
Which energy is created by laughter?
According to Sigmund Freud, laughter releases psychic energy.
Does laughter yoga work?
It is reported to have reduced stress in people.
World Laughter Day Activities
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Try laughter yoga
Join a laughter yoga club and practice this art of laughing together. Laughing is more fun when it is shared.
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Watch funny videos
There is no shortage of funny videos on the internet. So get online and laugh till you can’t anymore.
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Go out and watch a stand-up show
Make sure not to miss the opportunity to watch a stand-up show. Contagious laughter blows up in the crowd when you laugh with everyone.
5 Interesting Facts About Laughter
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Laughter came before language
Scientists believe that humans laughed before they could speak.
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Animals laugh too
Rats and Chimpanzees are known to laugh.
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The brain can’t help but laugh
Whenever we hear someone laugh, our premotor cortical region of the brain is triggered, which activates laughter in us too.
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Laughter burns calories
10 to 15 minutes of laughter can burn up to 40 calories, according to a Vanderbilt University Study.
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The longest stand-up show was 80 hours
On April 15, 2015, Nashville recorded 80 hours' worth of stand-up shows with multiple comedians.
Why We Love World Laughter Day
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It cracks us up
Life is better with a bit of humor. Laughter keeps us sane and happy, and this is the day to celebrate the gift of laughter.
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It creates a bond
Laughter is known to create social bonds. Laughing with people connects us to them.
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It is a day for happiness
We spend our lives stressing over things. But we have this one to celebrate happiness in our lives.
World Laughter Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | May 1 | Sunday |
| 2023 | May 7 | Sunday |
| 2024 | May 5 | Sunday |
| 2025 | May 4 | Sunday |
| 2026 | May 3 | Sunday |
