May 4·Every year

World Laughter Day

Founded in 1998 by laughter yoga pioneer Dr. Madan Kataria, World Laughter Day falls on the first Sunday of May. Laughter yoga clubs now operate in 110 countries, based on research showing the body cannot distinguish between fake and genuine laughter — both trigger the same physiological benefits. The joke, in a sense, is on the cortisol.

Category: Silly
Observed in: IndiaUnited StatesUnited KingdomGermany

On this day in history →See the calendar Learn more ↗

Also on this day

Full history →

Notable · 2015

The Parliament of Malta moved from the Grandmaster's Palace to the purpose-built Parliament House (pictured).

2023Nine people are killed and thirteen injured in a spree shooting in Mladenovac and Smederevo, Serbia. It is the second mass shooting in the country in two days.
2019The inaugural all-female motorsport series, W Series, takes place at Hockenheimring. The race was won by Jamie Chadwick, who would go on to become the inaugural season's champion.
2014Three people are killed and 62 injured in a pair of bombings on buses in Nairobi, Kenya.