This has been asked several times in the past:

• When did the act of applause become commonplace?
• How did the round of applause come into being?
• When did people start clapping to show appreciation?

Okay guys, seriously. If you're here to post an actual comment which is in line with our rules, you're more than welcome. If you're here to leave your two cents, please think twice. If you're here to discuss a META topic, including the FAQ being linked, you're also free to create a separate thread for that express purpose. Cluttering up existing threads, however, kinda defeats the purpose, especially when you're complaining about useless clutter in the very same thread.

Please note that applause may be fake. Claque is a group of professionnal applauders. This kind of business spread during the 19th century in parisian Boulevard du Crime (many theaters, many crimes ont scene every evening^^) and abroad.

La Scala Opera claque was (is) well known.

Those applauders were paid to support an artist, a drama,... By the way, some may ask for a fee to avoid boo or silence.

Back to our subject, some applause record may be fake^^