Happy Global Belly Laugh Day! January 24 is the time for laughers until you gasp for air. Why not flex your chuckle muscles if you are reading this blog on January 23 or another time until World Laughter Day in May?
How to celebrate the day? Take a break from study at 1:24 p.m. sharp. You can let out a few hearty laughs by yourself, but it is best if you invite others to join you. Don’t be shy!
- Stand up.
- Walk away from your desk if you can.
- Throw your arms in the air.
- Laugh as loud as you can, clutching your belly.
I hear you chuckle already and am smiling here. Good job!
I stumbled upon this celebration just when I was thinking, “Too bad the mythical gift-bringer grandfather has gone back to his home in the north pole. Uncle Nowruz of the spring equinox will not arrive until 20 March.” You may read more here and here.
Did you know that laughter improves blood circulation? It is a must do to boost productivity on these cold January days. Even better if you extend the laughter onto the weekend. Invite friends and have a movie night with potluck dinner or snacks. Here are my top three feel good activities:
Reminiscing about a funny event. Have you heard the ten bizarre historical incidents?
Singing and dancing. Here is a list curated by dance and laughter fans.
Watching a comedy show. Watched one this weekend. Why [Were] Hacivat [and] Karagöz Killed? is a Turkish comedy that relies on language play, situational irony, dance, and music. The film is free on YouTube and has English subtitles.
Some background: Karagöz (“Blackeye”) and Hacivat (“İvaz, the Pilgrim”) are the lead characters of the traditional Turkish shadow play, now on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In the film, Karagöz the ignorant nomad meets Hacivat the opportunist envoy in the city of Bursa in 1330. Ottomans are laying down the first stones of the empire. Hacivat and Karagöz haggle over Karagöz’s almost dead cow. Hacivat fools the naïve Karagöz. Meanwhile, a classical Greek tragedy is playing at an open-air theatre. Karagöz becomes an actor when the two find themselves on stage while fighting. Hacivat and Karagöz will pay the heavy price of truth telling through humor.
FYI. The cast includes Haluk Bilginer (Karagöz), Ayşen Gruda (Karagöz’s mother), and Beyazıt Öztürk (Hacivat). Bilginer might be the best contemporary male actor from Türkiye. He plays Aydin in the much sober Winter Sleep, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. My personal favourite Bilginer character is the justice seeking Agâh in Persona. Bilginer truly deserved his 1919 International Emmy Award for Best Performance.
Keep jolly and motivated until I return with another int’l film from another country in February!
