Why is 2005 ground zero for the Revolution of Laughter?

A number of indicators and events related to laughter, clowning, humour and playfulness have taken on a life of their own this year. To list but a few:

• There are over 3000 Laughter Clubs worldwide.
• There are approximately 100 schools in Europe alone, that teach clowning and the art of playfulness with an eye on personal development.
• The number of therapists and trainers who use humour and laughter in their work with others is increasing dramatically: there are currently over 100 in Europe.
• Approximately 1000 people throughout the world celebrated World Laughter Day on 1st May.
• There is a plethora of articles and TV programmes about the benefits of laughter on people’s physical and mental health. In Europe alone, over 50 articles have been published.
• The creation of the United Nations of Laughter in Geneva on 1st May (the event was broadcast on the evening news in Switzerland).

Origin of the concept

Yvan Aboussouan (the Swiss Federation of Laughter’s coordinator for Western Switzerland) came up with the idea of taking 2005 as ground zero for the Revolution of Laughter when the United Nations of Laughter was created on 1stMay 2005. The many laughers present welcomed the idea.

How will the Revolution of Laughter be celebrated?

Three key words: Fun – Learning – Free

Volunteer ‘youth’ leaders, otherwise known as animators here, will give an open air laughter workshop once a year to encourage and bring about laughter, good humour and a zest for life in our daily life.

• Show that you can rally people around a cause such as laughter, fun and humour without mentioning the words ‘money’, ‘sponsors’ or ‘advertising’… in other words the worries of a very mercantile world.
• Finding animators who are willing to give of their time (a mere few hours here and there) because they believe in what we’re doing.