"Laughing is a celebration of the good, and it's also how we deal with the bad. Laughing, like crying, is a good way of eliminating toxins from the body. Since the mind and body are connected, you use an amazing amount of muscles when you laugh."

Gerry Fielka, Venice Beach, California
 
"I happy on you."

Chanchla Yadar, Varanasi, India
 
"If human life did not have laughing, that would be boring. Laughing is what makes life fun."

Perenlei Senddoo, Mongolia
 
"If you can't laugh, there's something wrong. You gotta let it out. If you didn't laugh it would be all bottled up. Then it'd probably come out as anger instead of laughter."

Sherri Simpson, Flint, Michigan
 
"Laughing is a kind of release. When I am sad and I laugh, I can forget about my problems at least for a little bit and be free from all the bad things that happen."

Ivana, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
 
"In our way, life, besides being harsh, is supposed to be enjoyable too. Like our old folks, they tell stories and they laugh and enjoy themselves. So laughing is an expression of an emotion, but it also teaches at the same time."

Oliver Sulley,
Wounded Knee, South Dakota
 
"In the Navajo tradition we have what we call Chi Dlo Dil, or a Laughing Party, for a newborn. The Laughing Party is the first laugh you hear from a child. It's usually around six weeks.

It's the baby's first expression to the world, saying 'I'm ready to interact.'

Before that, the baby is still in the soft world and you aren't supposed to put anything hard and fixed on the body, or they may take on those qualities. But after the laughing party, you can give the baby jewelry or bracelets or other decorations.

At the party everybody sits around the baby and has a big meal and plays with the baby. The person who makes the baby laugh first plays an important role in the child's life."

Nancy Evans, Shiprock, NM (Navajo Nation)

 
"Laughing means being cognizant of your surroundings. When you laugh you become a part of something---you join in, you become part of the crowd.

Sometimes the joke relates to you. It takes a little bit of humility when you can laugh at yourself---get off your high horse, relax, and let it go. It's a way of saying 'You can have this one on me. Enjoy yourself. I'll get even.'"

Malcolm E. Stitt, Albuquerque, New Mexico

 
"I don't know where the hell laughing comes from. It's good for your health, I know that much. There's so much sadness in the world, it's a wonder you can even laugh at all.

Like when I lost my lady. I was 25 years with her. I cried plenty. I still wake in the morning and I think, 'Where is she?'

But life goes on. You can't go around being an old grump all the time."

Bob, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 
"People can laugh when they can cooperate and share an experience together."

Ahwed Abd El Rahwan, Waly (outside El Fayoum), Egypt
 
"Laughing is the smile of the World."

Weerashon Puttrpadit, Mahasarakham, Thailand
 
"Laughing is enjoyment. This is very strange. I have never seen this before. It looks like feathers."

Turkana woman, Kakuma, Kenya
 
"We are funny."

Ashlyn and Sara, Queens, New York