ABSTRACT
Humor, music, art, story-telling, literature, spirituality, and play are all methods that can be used to aid those who are dying or grieving. The word humor has been used historically to mean sickness. The bodily humors were thought to be symptoms and causes of illness. Humor allows one to establish a temporary sense of normality, relaxation, and security to allow the person to cope with or at least minimize the fear and to rise above the physical pain that he or she might be experiencing. Humor and laughter can also promote wellness and health. Humor conveys messages, facilitates social relations, diverts aggression, and manages “touchy” situations by producing a feeling of social solidarity. The joking of the dying person liberates the individual from piety and passive acceptance of the impending death. Like humor and music, art also can be used to aid those faced with dying.
