Palamedes was a Greek mythological character who is said to be a prolific inventor, having invented dice, the alphabet, numbers and even lighthouses, not to mention outwitting Odysseus during the Trojan War. Palamedes is also credited with the invention of the standalone 'joke', and idea of humorous story telling. Indeed, it was the Greeks had the first legitimate comic club in 350 BC, called the Group of Sixty. The members chose to meet at the Temple of Heracles, where their sole purpose was to get together and exchange jokes. According to legend, Alexander the Greats father, Philip of Macedon actually paid scribes to write down the jokes for him.

As can be seen, humor is a fun, beneficial and integral part of our everyday lives, as a result, it's only fitting that we have a day with which to celebrate it, and that day is International Joke Day. International Joke day is celebrated on the first day of July, the day when the year is officially half over. Every year, on July 1, people all over the internet begin to exchange jokes, and spread laughter. Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube flow to the brim with denizens of the net, all sharing their bits, one liners, funny cat videos, and tall tales.

The true history of this day is a bit murky, but sources suggest that this day was created by Wayne Reinagel in 1994. Wayne Reinagel is an author of fantasy books, and decided that he needed a way to promote his books. So, as the story goes, one day in 1994 he realized that the year was half over and just decided to create the International Joke Day. According to Reinagle, "I made this day July 1, because the year was officially half over, and I then used it to promote my joke books".

Regardless of the origin of International Joke Day, the fact remains that people everywhere could use a bit more humor in their lives. Gelotology is the study of laughter and how it affects our physical and mental health, and has found that telling jokes, laughing at jokes and watching funny videos improves ones physical and mental health. Norman Cousins' memoir 'Anatomy of an Illness' discussed the physical and psychological benefits of laughter. He found that jokes, and comedies such as Marx Brothers movies made him feel better. Laughter reduces blood pressure, causes a reduction in stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, increases the immune system, among others.

So sit back, relax and enjoy watching a few cute kitty videos, or some good comedy films. The results will be an improved immune system, attitude and overall feeling of relaxation and good will. Researchers believe that laughter evolved as a way for ancient humans to convey friendship towards one another. If this is indeed the case, then celebrating International Joke Day could bring us one step closer to world peace. Laughter is good medicine, and best of all, it's free and can be shared with those you love.