International Joke Day

International Joke Day, every year on July 1, is a great occasion to smile and make your loved ones laugh. Jokes are one of the oldest forms of communication. A famous saying states that laughter is the best medicine, and scientists have proven that a good mood and smiles help in the fight against stress.

History

Presumably, International Joke Day originated in the United States, but the details of the origin of this holiday are not fully known. According to one version, the creator of this holiday was the American writer Wayne Reinagel, who allegedly created this day in 1994. At least, that is what he claimed in his interviews.

Jokes have been known to people since time immemorial, and the creation of the first joke is often attributed to the ancient Greeks. Palamedes was considered one of the ancient Greek jokers, and the following is an example of his jokes: Three men go on a trip: a confused professor, a bald man, and a hairdresser. At night, they set up camp and decide to take turns guarding the luggage. However, when it is the barber’s turn, out of boredom, he shaves the professor’s head. When the shaved one wakes up for his shift, he feels his head and says: “What a stupid hairdresser: he woke up the bald one instead of me!”

Later, archaeologists found the oldest joke – it was invented by the ancient Sumerians in 1900 BC. More evidence of humor among ancient people is a joke dating back to 1600 BC, found in the Westcar papyrus. In 1470, Poggio Bracciolini published an anthology of anecdotes called Facetiae. Even in Shakespeare’s dramatic play Macbeth, dated 1603, there is a joke that begins with the words ‘knock-knock.’

How to Take Part

There are several ways to make the celebration of International Joke Day more interesting and enjoyable:

• Publish jokes and funny stories on social networks with a hashtag in honor of the holiday;
• Turn on a humorous show, series, or film alone or with friends;
• Give up reading the news for one day to get rid of unnecessary anxiety;
• Share jokes with colleagues, family, or friends.

When is International Joke Day in 2024?

International Joke Day is associated with the anticipation of happiness and joy. It is observed on July 1st each year.

Observations