Origins and objectives
Although its exact origins are unclear, International Joke Day is believed to have been created in the 1990s by a group of comedians. The main objective is simple: to encourage people to share jokes, laugh together, and appreciate the power of humor in our lives.
This day is not officially recognized by the UN or other international organizations, but it is informally celebrated in many countries.
Laughter, a universal remedy
Laughter has many benefits for both physical and mental health:
- Stress reduction
- Strengthening of the immune system
- Improved blood circulation
- Release of endorphins, the “happiness hormones”
- Lowering of blood pressure
- Improvement in sleep quality
Moreover, humor can be an excellent way to break the ice, create bonds, and overcome cultural differences.
Celebrating the day
Participating in this day is simple:
- Share your best jokes with friends, family, or colleagues
- Organize a joke contest
- Attend a comedy show
- Watch your favorite comedy
- Participate in an improv comedy workshop
- Read a humorous book
- Share funny memes on social media (with the hashtag #InternationalJokeDay)
Humor across cultures
Each culture has its own humorous traditions. For example:
- In Japan, “manzai” is a very popular duo comedy style
- In Spain, “chistes” (short jokes) are an art form in themselves
- In the UK, dry humor is a true institution
- In France, wordplay and situational comedy are highly appreciated
- In the United States, stand-up comedy reigns supreme
- In India, Bollywood comedy mixes humor, dance, and music
Challenges and considerations
Although humor is universal, it’s important to remain sensitive to cultural differences and potentially offensive topics. The goal is to laugh together, not at the expense of others.
It’s also crucial to recognize that humor can be used as a powerful tool to address serious topics and promote social change, while being careful not to trivialize important issues.
Laughter in numbers
- A child laughs an average of 300 times a day, compared to only 17 times for an adult.
- 15 minutes of laughter per day can burn up to 40 calories.
- Laughter stimulates 15 facial muscles.
- A study showed that people are 30 times more likely to laugh in groups than alone.
Inspiring quotes
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”
Fun anecdotes
- The longest recorded laugh lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes. An Australian woman holds this rather unusual record!
- “Gelotology” is the scientific study of laughter and its effects on the body.
- The first Sunday in May is “World Laughter Day,” created in 1998 by an Indian doctor.