The word clown first appeared in English around the 1500s, but it ultimately derived from Scandinavian languages such as the Icelandic klunni or the Swedish kluns, both meaning a clumsy person.

Traditionally, there are three main types of clowns: the Whiteface, the Auguste, and the Character clown. The Whiteface is the intelligent, authoritarian leader. The Auguste is a foolish, chaotic troublemaker. The Character clown adopts a distinct persona, such as a policeman, a chef, or a hobo.

Because it transforms a person’s identity, a clown’s red nose is often considered the world’s smallest mask.

Joseph Grimaldi of the 19th century is regarded as the first modern clown. He created “Joey,” the first British pantomime character. However, his makeup was so toxic that it eventually caused severe damage to his health. His phrase, Here we are again, is still quoted by clowns today.

Ronald McDonald of the McDonald’s restaurant chain first appeared in 1963, portrayed by Willard Scott. A local franchisee originally created him to appeal to children, and the national McDonald’s chain soon adopted him as its corporate mascot.

The classic clown car gag was invented in the 1950s, using hidden compartments and sleight of hand to create the illusion. It was especially popularized by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Rodeo clowns are not just performers; they are highly trained athletes tasked with protecting bull riders from serious injury or death. To protect themselves, they often wear padded and reinforced gear.

A nonprofit called Clowns Without Borders sends clowns to entertain children in crisis zones. It was founded in 1993 by Spanish clown Tortell Poltrona as Payasos Sin Fronteras.

Entertainers such as Robin Williams, Geoffrey Rush, Bill Irwin, and David Shiner studied clowning techniques to strengthen their comedic performances.

Clown Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in August or on August 1st depending on where.

Bozo the Clown was one of the first TV clowns and became one of the most popular, following his debut in the 1940s. Multiple regional productions of the show aired across the country.

Mexico and South America have repeatedly broken records for the largest gatherings of clowns in one place.

Some of the earliest clowns performed in silence until the rise of slapstick comedy made exaggerated physical humor more common.

Although clowns were inspired by European jesters, even ancient Egyptian pharaohs employed clown-like entertainers at their courts.

When a clown performer dies, fellow clowns often attend the funeral in full makeup and costume as a tribute.

Hobo clowns were once so popular in America that the profession even had its own union.

At its peak, the Barnum & Bailey Clown College accepted fewer than 40 students per year.

Serious clown performers must coordinate and design unique faces for themselves, as copying another clown’s exact appearance is one of the greatest taboos in the profession.

Clowns in Peru protested in 2014 when the government classified them as unskilled laborers.

The classic routine of a clown slipping on a banana peel allegedly originated as an accident, but the audience’s laughter cemented it as a timeless staple of clown comedy.