International Mirth Month – March 2025

History of International Mirth Month

Mirth is defined as ‘gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied by laughter.’ In other words, it is the expression of joy, pleasure, and happiness through laughter and amusement. Originally an old English word, ‘Mirth’ remains applicable to our daily lives even today. It is closely related to laughter, a pleasant physical reaction consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. Laughter is a feature of human behavior that is controlled by the brain. It helps people explain their thoughts in social interactions and gives conversations an emotional context. Laughter is a symbol of belonging to a group, as it indicates acceptance and positive relationships with others. Laughter is sometimes seen to be contagious, and one person’s laughter might cause others to laugh as positive feedback.

Life tends to get serious and challenging, and it can often be difficult to pull through the difficult times. This is where Allen Klein steps into the picture. Allen Klein is a pioneer in the fields of gelotology and therapeutic humor. Klein’s wife died of liver illness when she was just 34 years old, and the fact that she maintained her sense of humor to the end encouraged Klein to leave his prior work as a theater and television scene designer and pursue a degree in human development. Klein is an author and lecturer who specializes in the stress-relieving effects of humor and lightheartedness. Klein served as president of The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor from 2005 to 2006 and is the author of eight books about the therapeutic use of comedy, happiness, and positivity.

Klein emphasizes the importance of mirth and happiness even during bad days or in the most mundane life. He declared March to be International Mirth Month to encourage everyone to set aside time to do something fun and joyous and find the silver lining in life. Most importantly, to have fun!