Had this city not existed, it would have been invented. Without Odesa life in Ukraine would have lost a rich colour from its palette. This merry city has an ebullient life, its residents are well-known for their keen sense of humour, special dialect, and self-assuredness. A sharp tongue and an inborn stamina have helped them survive wars, revolutions, and changes in the regime. No hardships could break them. Why? Ask anyone and you will hear: humour.

In Odesa, humour seems to materialize from the air. Take a ride in a tram and you will understand that Mykhailo Zhvanetsky [an extremely popular stand-up comedian who made his name under the Soviets] could not have been born anywhere else. Odesa is associated with so many famous names that just listing them would take pages (e.g., Pushkin, Babel, Ilf and Petrov, Kuprin, Bagritsky...) There is something special about the very atmosphere of this city. A visitor is instantly exposed to that "virus," becoming an Odesite, even if only for a while.

Humoryna [local coinage, meaning a humour contest]. Who but the Odesites would have conceived the idea? Residents celebrate the city anniversary in September. It is their own special festive occasion. Outsiders do not know that much about it. For all those wishing to feel like Odesites, there is the rare occasion of Humoryna. It attracts a great many visitors and Odesa, true to its tradition, makes all of them welcome. On the 1st of April this year will be the 30th anniversary of Humoryna.

How did Humoryna start? There is a saying "No pain, no gain". Back in the stagnant 1970s, the extremely popular KVN brains trust competition, televised nationwide, was terminated by the authorities. It was a heavy blow to the people, as every contest gathered millions of families in front of their TV screens, passionately rooting for their favourite teams, and later heatedly discussing the jury's verdicts. It was probably the only fresh breeze in the oppressive Soviet atmosphere, and now it was gone. As usual, the Soviet people remained silent. Not Odesa, though. Its KVN team refused to dissolve and they started gathering at the Students' Palace.

"It was then we thought of organising a holiday of humour for the whole city," recalls Valery Khait, skipper of the first Odesa KVN team who stood at the cradle of Humoryna. "The name was invented by Oleh Stashkevych. And so we must thank that stagnant period which made KVN people, denied TV audiences, find an access to a live audience."

To make all women red with envy.

На заздрість Вірці Сердючці.

This miracle really began in 1973. Odesa was suddenly big news; journalists from Moscow sent blitz reports praising that "gem of humour by the sea." Humoryna jokes were repeated by people queuing up for scarce food, at factories and offices... At one such Humoryna held at a stadium, the emcee announced that a prize would be awarded to the man in the audience with a photo of his mother-in-law. And you know what? There was such a man. That is Odesa for you!

Today, such jokes are received with a faint smile. At the time they were markedly risque and highly creative; every Humoryna was actually a challenge to the dull routine and mediocrity raised to a national standard. There were all those regional, district, city, and city district Party committees [not to mention the omnipotent and omnipresent KGB] constantly on the watch-out for the slightest manifestation of dissenting moods among the masses. There were basic official holidays, the first of May and the seventh of November [anniversary of the so-called Great October Socialist Revolution] when everybody was encouraged [rather, obligated] to walk out in the street and join columns of festive demonstrators. The rest of the year any public gatherings were strongly discouraged [unless officially organized for propaganda purposes]. Yet there was Odesa with its Humoryna. True, the euphoric media reports did not reflect the reality in its entirety, because the contest was actually held on a considerably smaller scale.

But the people were waiting and their expectations finally came to fruition.

Neither wars, nor revolutions have broken us.

Ніщо нас не зломило: ані війни, ані революції.

At present, the holiday, starting with the traditional cannon fired on Duma Square and ending with a carnival and gala concert, is complemented with the annual unveiling of monuments. Over the past several years there have appeared monuments to Mother-Odesa; Rabinowitz, hero of countless jokes; fishermen Sonya and Kostya, heroes of the once popular song; the celebrated con artist Ostap Bender from The Twelve Chairs by Ilf and Petrov. Bender's bronze bas-relief embellishes the facade at 47 Yekateryninska St. (Odesites believe that the man actually lived there).

Another nuance is that the festival's programme is currently aimed more at an intellectual audience. Plays, premieres of the best films, meetings with movie stars, and also with noted scientists. A round table entitled "The Nature of Laughter" was held at the reference library of Odesa University. Philologists, literary critics, sociologists, experts on culture tried to explain a sense of humour that remains an enigmatic phenomenon. Incidentally, one of the reports submitted to the round table was entitled "Who Invented Odesa Humour".

It is a question that still has no answer. Only suggestion. Odesa is a multi-ethnic city, incorporating various cultures, so it had to develop its own special phenomenon. Humour. Its own colourful dialect. Talking to a resident of Odesa, one becomes instantly aware of that dialect, although the Odesite is sure he speaks the only correct language. Add to this the southern temperament.

The third eye can open only in Odesa.

"Третє око" може відкритися тільки в "перлині біля моря"

Whereas in its early years Humoryna was interesting mostly for the Soviet people, now it has international acclaim. It is attended by an increasing number of guests from abroad. The hotels are packed with tourists and one can hear a variety of languages. This year's estimate points to an influx from 18 countries and hotel reservations are already being made, meaning that those wishing to be in Odesa on the first of April should make arrangements now, otherwise they will have to spend the night on the famous Odesa beaches. The biggest news of the coming Humoryna is that the "founding fathers" scattered across the world since its inception are planning a reunion.