The Egalitarian Origins of Cinco de Mayo
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Assisted Living Residences
May 2019
The Egalitarian Origins of Cinco de Mayo
“From 1862-1867, the public memory of as California. The United States at the time
Cinco de Mayo was forged in the American was embroiled in the Civil War, and many,
west.” especially the Latino communities in
– David Hayes-Bautista, UCLA California, saw the Mexican victory as a
simultaneous victory for the Union army.
Cinco de Mayo is a time for food, dancing,
piñata-bashing, singing, mariachi music, The French regime that ordered the
and other festive customs inspired by invasion of Mexico had actively supported
Mexican culture. At Youville, during the Confederate army in their war efforts.
Happy Hour, we will enjoy Mexican food Many feared that a French occupation of
and live music performed by a mariachi Mexico would guarantee at least another
band. If we could magically transport year of French support for the
ourselves to a Mexican city, we’d be sure Confederates. This is how the Latino
to see even bigger, wilder Cinco de Mayo community in the United States came to
celebrations, right? associate the tyrannical French invaders in
Mexico with the slave-owning southern
Trick question! While Cinco de Mayo
states. Both battle fronts became parts of
commemorates an event that occurred
a larger American war against tyranny and
deep in the heart of Mexico, almost no
inequality. When news arrived of the
one in Mexico still celebrates it. The event
Mexican victory, celebrations erupted
that inspired Cinco de Mayo was The Battle
throughout the west coast.
of Puebla, which took place on May 5th,
1862. What happened there was fairly Today, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a
straightforward: a ragtag Mexican army general celebration of Mexican heritage
managed to defeat an invading French within the United States. Most people
army twice as large. celebrating are unaware of the egalitarian
ideals that fueled the initial celebrations as
Although Puebla is 630 miles from the
news of the Mexican victory reached the
nearest American border, the significance
Latino population of California.
of this unlikely victory was felt as far away
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mariachi Mexico Lindo at Happy Hour
Thursday, May 2 at 3:30 PM
We will celebrate Cinco de Mayo three days early this year! Joined by the talented
musicians of Mariachi Mexico Lindo, our Happy Hour will include Mexican food,
drinks and great music. Mariachi Mexico Lindo features lively Latin rhythms, authentic
Mexican instruments and great vocal harmonies.An Afternoon of Music with Nancy Day and Your Guide to the Kentucky Derby
Drummer John George
Tuesday, May 28 at 2:00 PM Alternatively referred to as “The Run for the Roses” or
An accomplished pianist, singer and composer, Nancy “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the
Day consistently thrills audiences with her dynamic Kentucky Derby is a 1.25 mile race for three-year-old
performances. She draws from a wide-ranging repertoire thoroughbred horses. The Kentucky Derby draws an
that includes jazz, country, ragtime, musical theater and average of 150,000 visitors each year, including residents,
enchanting love songs. out-of-towners, celebrities, presidents, and even members
of royal families.
Happy Birthday!
This year, The 145th Kentucky Derby will take place on
Camille P. May 3 Saturday, May 4. At Youville, we will show live race
Frances C. May 9 coverage from 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM. Tune in to root for
Rita N. May 27 your favorite horse - or simply to marvel at all of the
Dolores B. May 29 elaborate hats in the audience.
Residents born in May are invited to lunch
in the Private Dining Room to celebrate on Friday, Kentucky Derby History
May 31 at 12:00 PM. The first Kentucky Derby race occurred on May 17th,
1875. Close to 10,000 people watched as 15
thoroughbred horses ran what was then a 1.5 mile course.
In 1876, the length of the race was changed to 1.25
Shopping Trips
miles. By the early 1900s, owners of winning
Lexington Center / Walgreen’s Kentucky Derby horses started sending their winners to
Thursday, May 2 & 23 run in the Preakness Stakes in Maryland and the
Time: 1:00 PM Return: 2:30 PM Belmont Stakes in New York. In 1930, sportswriter
Lexington Stop & Shop Charles Hatton coined the term “Triple Crown” in
Friday, May 3 & 31 reference to the same horses running the three races
Time: 9:30 AM Return: 11:00 AM consecutively.
Burlington Market Basket Kentucky Derby Lingo
Friday, May 10 & 24 • Mint Julep–– The Mint Julep is the official drink of
Time: 9:30 AM Return: 11:00 AM the Kentucky Derby. It is an iced drink consisting of
bourbon, mint, and a sweet syrup and is traditionally
Bedford Stop & Shop
served in a commemorative Kentucky Derby glass.
Friday, May 17
Time: 9:30 AM Return: 11:00 AM • Burgoo–– A thick, meaty stew that is the traditional
meal of the Kentucky Derby.
Like Us On Facebook • Millionaire’s Row–– The premium seating area that
Visit our Facebook page any time for updates, photos, houses all of the rich and famous Kentucky Derby
videos and more. When you “like” us on Facebook, we guests during the races.
will send you updates and links to our most recent news.
Just search for Youville Assisted Living on Facebook and • Triple Crown–– A series of three races, the Kentucky
click “like.” See you on the web! Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes,
that is run annually by a group of thoroughbred
horses.
2Monthly Highlights... stories. Rabbi Margalit will present stories from a wide
Music Appreciation Lecture Series: variety of faith traditions including Christianity, Judaism,
Gilbert & Sullivan Sufism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Native American
with Richard Travers traditions. The course will explore themes such as
Wednesday, May 1 at 2:00 PM spiritual quest, growth and challenge.
Richard Travers presents a series of stimulating music
lectures that combine audio selections, visuals, biography Acrylic Painting with Eddie Bruckner
and a trove of music history and theory to top it all off. Friday, May 10 at 2:00 PM
This lecture will pay tribute to the Victorian-era This 1.5 hour class will guide participants through a
theatrical partnership between librettist W.S. Gilbert traditional landscape painting. Working with acrylic
(1836-1911) and composer Arthur Sullivan paints, instructor Eddie Bruckner will demonstrate
(1842-1900). This stalwart duo collaborated on fourteen different techniques during hands-on painting such as
comic operas between 1871 and 1896, the best known the preparation of materials, color mixing and specific
of which include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance brush techniques.
and The Mikado. 1919 at 100: A Lecture Series with Gary Hylander
Broadway Seated Dance with Phyllis Rittner Prohibition
Wednesday, May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 9:30 AM Saturday, May 11 at 2:00 PM
Broadway Seated Dance is a music and dance program After years of contention between “drys” and “wets,” the
for older adults who love the upbeat tunes from movie 18th Amendment (Prohibition) became the law of the
musicals, Broadway and the popular performers dazzling land. The so-called “Noble Experiment” turned
audiences between the 1930s and 1960s. This program law-abiding citizens into outlaws. Mobsters built a
includes a gentle warm up, easy-to-follow body bloody empire on beer and alcohol. New words such as
movements and a relaxing cool down. The exercises are “hit-man,” “speakeasy” and “booze” muscled their way
designed to improve cardiovascular function, range of into the vernacular. Unpopular and unenforceable, the
motion, muscle tone, posture, circulation and flexibility. 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933.
Be sure to join us on Wednesday mornings! ArtMatters Presents . . .
Ballroom Dancing with Michael Winward Illusion & Escher
Tuesday, May 7 at 2:00 PM Tuesday, May 14 at 2:00 PM
With instructor Michael Winward leading, dancers of all Throughout history, artists such as Da Vinci and M.C.
abilities are able to get moving in a supportive and joyful Escher have explored illusion in famous artwork. Visual
environment. Inspired by the idea that people of all ages art styles like Anamorphic art and Op art continued to
and abilities should have opportunities to dance, challenge the eye in new ways. This presentation will
Mr. Winward has led social Ballroom and Latin dance focus particularly on the works of Escher, a 20th-century
workshops throughout Greater Boston, witnessing Dutch artist who was a master and innovator of illusion.
firsthand the many benefits that dancing provides for the Drumming Circle with SoulWorks Rhythm
“Over-55” community. Dance encourages good posture, Monday, May 20 at 2:00 PM
offers low-impact, cardiovascular exercise and connects Experience the exhilaration of communal drumming!
people through the skills of leading and following. For centuries, many cultures have made drumming a
central part of communal life. Recently, drumming has
Stories of the Spirit from Around The World been associated with therapeutic benefits like lower blood
A Discussion Series with Rabbi Natan Margalit pressure and stress relief. SoulWorks Rhythm will provide
Wednesday, May 8 at 2:00 PM an array of drums and guide participants through
The world has many spiritual traditions that have traditional drumming techniques.
imparted a treasure trove of delightful and enlightening 3May 2019
9:30 Broadway Seated Dance 1 9:30 Stretch & Flex
2 3 9:30 Stretch & Flex 4
9:30 Balance Challenge
10:30 Centering Prayer 10:30 Programs Planning Mtg. 11:00Fatima Rosary Group
9:30 Shopping Trip: Lex. S & S
2:00 Music Lecture Series 1:00 Trans. to Lexington Ctr. 12:00Computer 101 w/ Riya
Transportation Hours Country Store 10:15 Flower Arranging
PS Salon Hours w/ Richard Travers 2:00 Resident Managment Mtg. 2:00 Jazz Songwriters Series
Monday through Friday Hours 1:30 Blood Pressure Clinic
Thursday & Friday 3:30 Black Jack 3:30 Celebrate Cinco de Mayo w/ Ross Petot
8:00 AM- 2:00 PM Monday, Wednesday & Friday 2:00 Laughter Yoga w/ Juliet
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM 7:00 Documentary Movie: w/ Mexico Lindo @ Happy Hour 3:00 Meet Dori at Springtime Spritz.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 3:15 The Body Connection w/ Liz
The Case for Christ 7:00 Music & Musical Film: 5:00 Kentucky Derby on TV
7:00 Movie: Beetlejuice
Guys and Dolls
9:30 Broadway Seated Dance 8 10
9 2:00 Historical Lecture Series 11
9:30 Balance Challenge
10:00 Downton Abbey: Season51 9:30 Balance Challenge
6 9:30 Stretch & Flex
7 10:30 Centering Prayer 9:30 Stretch & Flex
9:30 Shopping Trip:
Episode 1 10:30 Low Vision Support Group 11:00 Chaplet of Divine Mercy 11:30 Lunch Trip: Margarita’s 10:30 Nurse’s Chat 1919 at 100: Prohibition
Burlington Market Basket
2:00 Pianist Fr. Pat sponsored by 2:00 May Jeopardy Trivia 2:00 Ballroom Dancing 2:00 Stories of the Spirit Around 2:00 Profiles of Women in 10:15 Flower Arranging w/ Gary Hylander
the Social Justice Committee 3:30 Bingo w/ Michael Winward the World w/ Rabbi Natan Margalit History: Catherine the Great 3:30 Afternoon Concert with
2:00 Acrylic Painting Class
7:00 Classic Movie: 7:00 Movie: The Magic of Belle 3:15 PBS Special w/ Kathleen 3:30 Black Jack w/ Richard Brabander New England Seventh Day
w/ Eddie Bruckner
Brother Orchid Isle From Jesus to Christ 7:00 Documentary Movie: 4:00 Happy Hour Adventist Church Choir
3:30 Farewell Tea for Liz
7:00 Movie: Crazy Rich Asians Ancient Mysteries: 7:00 Music & Musical Film: 7:00 Movie: Stan & Ollie
7:00 Movie: The Favourite
Lost Castles of England Les Miserables
12 13 9:30 Stretch & Flex 14 9:30 Broadway Seated Dance15 16 9:30 Balance Challenge 17 9:30 Stretch & Flex
18
Happy Mother’s Day 9:30 Balance Challenge 9:30 Stretch & Flex
11:00 Chaplet of Divine Mercy 10:30 Centering Prayer 9:30 Shopping Trip: 10:30Cooking with Christie
10:00 Downton Abbey: Season 1 10:15 Creative Corner: 2:00 Forever Fit
2:00 ArtMatters presents... 2:00 Verdi Opera Series: Bedford Stop & Shop 1:30 Bonus Bingo
Episode 2 Soul Collaging 4:00 The Rat Pack Happy Hour
Illusion & Escher w/ Erika Reitshamer 10:15 Nutrition Talk w/ Sandra Peck 1:30 Matinee Movie:
2:30 Celebrate Mother’s Day 2:00 Fall Prevention 7:00 Music & Musical Film:
3:15 PBS Special w/ Kathleen 3:30 Black Jack 1:30 Caring Canines Spartacus: Part I
w/ Pianist Dick Carpentier w/ Aedan Ford Godspell
From Jesus to Christ 7:00 Documentary Movie: 3:15 Flower Arranging 3:00 Afternoon Walk
7:00 Classic Movie: Paris When it 3:30 Bingo Legend to Legend
Sizzles 7:00 Movie: Billy Elliot 7:00 Movie: Slumdog Millionaire 7:00 Movie: Colette 3:30 Springtime Spritzers
7:00 Movie: Spartacus: Part I
9:30 Broadway Seated Dance
19 9:30 Balance Challenge
20 9:30 Stretch & Flex 21 10:30 Centering Prayer 22 23 9:30 Balance Challenge 24 9:30 Stretch & Flex 27
11:00 Chaplet of Divine Mercy 10:30 Lunch Trip: 9:30 Stretch & Flex 9:30 Shopping Trip: 10:30Gardening Club
10:00 Downton Abbey: Season 1 10:15 Cranium Crunchers
2:00 Historical Lecture Series: Not Your Average Joe’s 1:00 Trans. to Lexington Ctr. Burlington Market Basket 1:30 Bonus Bingo
Episode 3 2:00 Drumming Circle
w/ Paolo di Gregorio 1:30 Documentary Movie: 2:00 Forever Fit! 2:00 Self-Care Secrets: 1:30 Matinee Movie:
2:00 Lexington POPS Concert w/ SoulWorks Rhythm
3:15 PBS Special w/ Kathleen Sinatra: To Be Frank 4:00 Happy Hour An Introduction to Ben-Hur: Part I
in Chapel 3:30 Bingo
From Jesus to Christ 3:30 Black Jack 7:00 Music & Musical Film: Self-Care Techniques 3:00 Afternoon Walk
7:00 Movie: Spartacus: Part II 7:00 Movie: The Blind Side
7:00 Movie: Three Billboards 7:00 Documentary Movie: The Phantom of the Opera 3:15 Flower Arranging 3:30 Springtime Spritzers
Outside Ebbing Missouri Frank Sinatra: The Man and 7:00 Movie: Miracles from Heaven 7:00 Movie: Ben-Hur: Part I
26 27
9:30 Stretch & Flex
28 9:30 Broadway Seated Dance29
9:30 Stretch & Flex 30 9:30 Balance Challenge 31
Memorial Day 10:30 Centering Prayer 9:30 Shopping Trip:
10:00 Downton Abbey: Season 1 9:30 Balance Challenge 10:30 Let’s Talk Food 11:00 Lunch Trip: Castle Island 10:30 Current Events w/ Pam Lexington Stop & Shop
Episode 4 11:30 Memorial Day BBQ 11:00 Chaplet of Divine Mercy 2:00 Food Around the World: 12:00 Birthday Luncheon Manicures w/ Joanne
1:30 Documentary Movie:
2:00 Classical Pianist 2:00 Renaissance Series: DaVinci: 2:00 An Afternoon of Music w/ Dan MacRae 2:00 Afternoon Tea & Tales Monday, May 20
A Travelers Guide to Italy
MinKyung Oh “The Renaissance Man” w/ Nancy Day 4:00 Memorial Day Happy Hour 3:15 Flower Arranging 4:15 PM - 5:45 PM
3:30 Black Jack
7:00 Classic Movie: Ben-Hur: 3:30 Bingo & John Georges 7:00 Documentary Movie: 7:00 Music & Musical Film: 7:00 Movie: The Iron Lady
Part II 7:00 Movie: The King’s Speech 7:00 Movie: The Red Shoes A Travelers Guide to Italy Oklahoma!The Origins of Memorial Day PBS Special: From Jesus to Christ
On Monday, May 27, we will usher in the summer with Kathleen Kelleher
with Memorial Day. Though it is now a national Tuesday, May 7, 14 & 21 at 3:15 PM
holiday synonymous with barbecue, parades and This PBS series examines historical and archeological
honoring veterans, Memorial Day owes its beginning discoveries related to the life of Jesus of Nazareth. How
to a series of disparate commemorative gestures shortly does modern scholarship influence the impressions we
after the Civil War. These early events, both above and have of Jesus from The Bible? What was the historical
below the Mason-Dixon line, demonstrated a context in which Jesus preached? What can we know
remarkable sense of moral obligation on the parts of about him based on the gospels and other writings that
their organizers. have survived through history? Biblical scholars and
historians will piece together theories of how Jesus
One such event involved a group of women in actually lived using historical clues in this dynamic
Columbus, Mississippi. On an afternoon in 1866, the PBS special.
women, meeting together in a house, decided to bedeck
the graves of both confederate and union soldiers with Community Outings
flowers in a nearby cemetery. Their inclusion of the
graves of Union soldiers inspired Francis Miles Finch’s Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant
popular poem, “The Blue and the Grey,” published in Wednesday, May 8
the Atlantic Monthly in 1867. Some historians credit Depart: 11:30 AM
the southern women and their symbolic gesture of Return: 2:30 PM Cost: $ for lunch
reconciliation with the origination of Memorial Day. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with delicious Mexican food
Another early commemoration event took place in at Margarita’s!
Charleston, South Carolina in 1865. During the war,
the south had been keeping union soldiers as prisoners Not Your Average Joe’s
within the walls of a horse racing track. Many perished, Wednesday, May 22
and the Confederate soldiers hastily buried the bodies Depart: 10:30 AM
in a large, unmarked grave. After the whites fled town, Return: 1:30 PM Cost: $ for lunch
black freed men, in their first days of freedom, devoted Not Your Average Joe’s features an expansive menu with
themselves to the proper burial and consecration of innovative twists on classic pub fare. There is something
the dead Union soldiers. At the entrance to the race for everyone, including a large dessert menu!
track they installed a sign reading “Martyrs of the Race
Course.” The freed men also held an immense Castle Island
memorial procession, with some 10,000 people, Wednesday, May 29
and scattered flowers over the graves of the soldiers. Depart: 11:00 AM
Return: 2:30 PM Cost: $ for lunch
In 1868, Memorial Day (then known as “Decoration We will celebrate the spring season with a picnic lunch at
Day”) became official. General John Logan drafted Castle Island. Find a shady spot under a tree and enjoy
General Order #11, known as the Memorial Day order. a view of the harbor, or take a walk around the island
and explore the ruins of the old naval forts that have
Today, Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May, been on this site since the 1600s. Did you know that the
and the entire long weekend marks the beginning of island got its name because every fort located on it was
summer vacation. At Youville we will honor our informally known as “The Castle?” To this day, Castle
veterans and greet summer as we have always done, Island remains the oldest continuously fortified site in
with our traditional Memorial Day BBQ lunch. British North America.
6Grow as a Person Opportunities Celebrating Mother’s Day
Performance & Lecture Series: On Sunday, May 12th, children of all ages will inundate
Jazz Songwriters phone lines and postal routes with sentiments of maternal
with Ross Petot affection. Mothers will be treated to surprise visits, gifts,
Saturday, May 4 at 2:00 PM cards, letters, flowers, dinners, and hopefully a sense of
Starting in the 20s, music for stage and heartfelt appreciation.
broadcasting introduced a host of great Mother’s Day is generally a happy, relaxed spring
songwriters to the American public. George Gershwin, holiday, and we can thank Anna Jarvis for its
Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and others establishment. Jarvis spent ten years in the early 20th
began to create the Great American Songbook which century trying to get America to appreciate the
became a perfect resource for improvising musicians and irreplaceable influence of all mothers. Her campaign had
established a truly American style and sound. nothing to do with self-interest, as Jarvis was not a mother
This concert series will focus on these great composers, herself. Instead, she was honoring the wishes of her own
and explore the musical characteristics that make them late mother, who during her lifetime had expressed the
unique, distinctive, and irresistible for the improvising desire for such a holiday.
jazz player.
Her efforts paid off in 1914, when Congress officially
Verdi Opera Lecture Series with Erika Reitshamer dedicated the second Sunday of May as the new national
Un Ballo In Maschera holiday for mothers. Jarvis never quite got over the rapid
Wednesday, May 15 at 2:00 PM commercialization of Mother’s Day that followed so soon
Un Ballo In Maschera is based on the real life assassination after its creation. She became appalled by the prevalence
of King Gustav III of Sweden in 1792. Gustav is a ruler of pre-printed greeting cards, believing that they were a
plagued by conscience and a deep sense of professional poor replacement for a handwritten, personalized
duty, but he has a guilty secret: he is in love with Amelia, letter. “A printed card means nothing except that you are
the wife of his closest friend. He also has enemies who are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for
brewing a murderous conspiracy. you than anyone in the world,” she once wrote.
Jarvis began to actively protest such commercialization,
Lecture Series: Protest & Public Discourse in America
and was even arrested once on her own holiday for
Protest & Reform in Antebellum America
disturbing the peace.
with Paolo di Gregorio
Tuesday, May 21 at 2:00 PM Jarvis was extremely active to the end of her own life,
The right to protest was so important to the founding never ceasing in her efforts to restore the Mother’s Day
fathers that they enshrined it in our Constitution. holiday to its intended, noncommercial state.
Over the course of American history, protest movements Today, no holiday is free from commercialization, and
and public action have sought to create a more equitable greeting cards hardly seem like a reason for protest. Still,
and just United States. The right to vocally and publicly Jarvis would have been pleased to see that Mother’s Day is
express frustrations with social or governmental structures primarily about honoring and remembering our mothers,
remains vitally important today. In this lecture, Professor and acknowledging our gratitude to the women who
di Gregorio discusses the far-reaching social and helped make us who we are.
economic change that occurred during the first decades
of the 19th century. The reform and protest movements We will celebrate Mother’s Day at Youville with a special
of the antebellum period reshaped American society and Mother’s Day meal. Be sure to complete the reservation
set the stage for the dramatic upheaval that the Civil War forms placed in your mailboxes so that we can
would bring to the country. accommodate all family members and guests.
7Save the Dates... Transportation Services
Programs Planning Meeting Transportation Hours
w/ Lead Programs Assistant, Simona Granfone Monday through Friday
Thursday, May 2 at 10:30 AM 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The fee for transportation is $10.00 for Lexington and
Resident Management Meeting $20.00 for surrounding communities. Please see the
w/ Youville Directors Programs Department with any questions. We will
Thursday, May 2 at 2:00 PM make every effort to accommodate your wishes,
Nurse’s Chat but please understand that no transportation can be
w/ Director of Wellness, Kathryn Carlino guaranteed with less than 48 hours notice.
Thursday, May 9 at 10:30 AM
Let’s Talk Food Programs / Menu Hotline...
w/ Director of Dining Services, Dan MacRae Have you ever wondered whether your favorite program
Tuesday, May 28 at 10:30 AM is on the schedule for the day? Would you like to know in
advance what the daily menu choices are? Now you can hear
a recorded list of the daily programs as well as the menu for
lunch and dinner at Youville Place. Simply call
Country Store (781) 761-1334 directly, or call the Reception Desk
Store Hours and the receptionist will connect you.
Monday 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Wednesday 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Friday 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Store Volunteers: Youville Place Management Team
Sr. Theresa R., Sr. Dolores B. & Brigid S.
Nicole Breslin CEO & President
Joanne Scianna COO
Tom Landry Director of Human Resources
Kathleen Kelleher Director of Mission &
Spiritual Care
Mission Paula Desmond-Wallace Regional Controller
We are a Catholic health ministry, providing Katie Blanchard Director of Programs
healing and care for the whole person, in service Susan Snow Director of Marketing
to all in our communities. Kathryn Carlino, RN Director of Wellness
Our Heritage Dan MacRae Director of Dining Services
Youville Assisted Living Residences are Bob Salamanca Director of Environmental
communities grounded in the spirit of Services
St. Marguerite d’Youville, foundress of the Sisters Virginia Ellis Director of Community Life
of Charity of Montreal, “Grey Nuns.” Trusting in Yanira Motto Director of
God’s love, each community serves all those in need Community Relations
with compassion and respect.Get fit. Stay sharp. Age well. ©
May 2019
“You Had to Be There”: How Laughter Binds Us Together
The last time you walked into a room full of laughing people, you most likely searched the
room for a visible source of hilarity. You may have asked someone to explain the joke. Of
course, people were too busy laughing to explain it, so they gave you the usual explanation:
“You had to be there.”
More often than not, there is no joke it all. Everyday laughter is rarely about comedy, and in
fact, all about “being there.” In the words of psychiatrist Robert Provine, laughter is a “social
vocalization that binds people together.” It does this in a variety of ways. Laughter can serve as a
simple expression of recognition – for example, the “oh, I know what you mean” laugh that we
often share to create a moment of mutual understanding. We laugh courteously, apologetically,
self-consciously, and often for completely mysterious reasons. But we rarely laugh when we are
by ourselves.
Laughter can come into existence with only the smallest pretext of shared experience between
people. There is nothing particularly funny about the time you bumped into your best friend
on the sidewalk. But the two of you couldn’t help but laugh. Would you have laughed as hard,
or at all, if the person you bumped into was a stranger?
Robert Provine has analyzed this “togetherness” trigger that qualifies most laughter. Provine and
his students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, took notes about the everyday
laughter they encountered around campus. They recorded information such as the gender of
the person laughing, the gender of the person who caused the laughter, and the comments
made just before the laughter started.
Physical
More often than not, these comments were just unfunny statements on the surface. “It was
nice to meet you, too!” and “Have a nice day!” for example, triggered laughter. Jokes only
occurred rarely. Often it was the speakers who laughed after their own comments to others. As
you might guess, the students did not find very many solitary people laughing to themselves.
Cognitive
Provine concluded that “the critical stimulus for a laugh is another person, not a joke.”
The Physical Effects of Laughter
Strong social connections have been shown to safeguard physical health, especially as we age.
Nutritional The benefits we derive from laughter are similar to the benefits we get from social interaction.
Here are a few examples of the physical effects of laughter:
• When we laugh, we release feel-good endorphins that have been found to
Spiritual
continuedreduce physical pain. Journalist Norman Cousins, after being hospitalized
for a spinal condition, incorporated laughter into his personal recovery
program. He found that watching the Marx brothers every night made
him laugh so much that afterward he was able to sleep for at least two Get fit. Stay sharp. Age well.©
hours without feeling any pain.
• Laughter inhibits the stress hormone, cortisol, which has adverse effects Balance Challenge
on immune functioning. Laughter causes the immune system to produce Broadway Seated Dance
more T cells, immune proteins and antibodies. Forever Fit
• By increasing heart rate, laughter benefits our cardiovascular system in a Stretch & Flex
way similar to exercise. In one study, 300 participants split into two Ballroom Dancing
groups that watched two different movies. Half of the group watched a
comedy (There’s Something About Mary) while the other half watched
a drama (Saving Private Ryan). The group that watched the comedy had Yellow squash is high in vitamins A, B6
a 30-40% increased dilation in their blood vessels compared with the and C, folate, magnesium, fiber,
group who watched the drama. riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium and
manganese. That is an impressive bundle
Healthy Laughter of nutrients!
Cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore
have found that people with heart disease were less likely to have a sense of Catholic Mass
humor than their heart-healthy contemporaries. Of the 300 participants Great Courses on DVD
surveyed, half had healthy hearts while the other half had a history of heart The Historical Jesus
disease. The participants answered questions examining the extent to which Stories of the Spirit
humor played a role in their everyday lives. In particular, those who laughed w/ Rabbi Natan Margalit
or used humor to cope with stressful situations were less likely to have heart
disease. Verdi Opera Lecture Series
Dr. Michael Miller, one of the cardiologists involved in the study, believes w/ Erika Reitshamer
that incorporating laughter into a daily routine might be as important for History Lecture Series: 1919 at 100
heart health as diet and exercise. There are numerous “laughing groups” with Gary Hylander
operating in many U.S. cities with the aim of spreading the benefits of History of Protest in America
laughter to their practitioners. There is even an entire branch of yoga w/ Paolo di Gregorio
devoted to communal laughing. Led by a certified instructor, participants ArtMatters Presents . . .
of laughter yoga engage in a combination of physical movements and Illusion & Escher
coordinated, voluntary laughter. The atmosphere builds on the Great Songwriter Series w/ Ross Petot
infectiousness of laughter and playful behavior. Even if you went into the Music Appreciation Lecture Series
session in a less than elated mood, chances are by the end, your laughter will w/ Richard Travers
have evolved into something genuine.
If you are interested in participating in laughter yoga, you are in luck!
Juliette Pellicane, Lead Programs Assistant at Youville House in Cambridge,
is a certified Laughter Yoga Instructor. She will lead an introductory
laughter yoga class at Youville Place on Friday, May 3 at 2:00 PM.
Assisted Living Residences
Youville House • 1573 Cambridge Street • Cambridge, MA 02138 • 617.491.1234
Youville Place • 10 Pelham Road • Lexington, MA 02421 • 781.861.3535 • www.youvilleassistedliving.orgYou can also read
