Well, first let's give a good and precise definition as found in
The WEBSTER'S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY of the American Language:
di*ab*o*lo: (dê ab'e lö') n. [c. 1907; prob < Gr. dia- across + bolè, a throw < ballein, to throw, but associated with It. diavolo, a devil] a toy consisting of a wooden spool which is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand.
Yes, but in other words?
Ok, first, it's a circus game consisting of two sticks and a string
with whom you spin a spool that is of different size and weigh depending
on one's taste.
Once you get it to spin fast enough you can throw it in the air
and when you're good (like me ;-) ) you can catch it back on the string!.
Amazing! yes, but not impossible! (as you will see in "learn to play")
A Bit of History
This game was invented in China (yes them again!) somewhere between the 4th and 3rd millenium
B.C. !; at that time it was given many names, such as "Kouen-gen", during the Han dynasty
(since 206 B.C.), wich means: "make the hollow bamboo stick whistle". In fact, in china, Diabolos
are still made out of bamboo with openings on the sides that create a whistling sound when spinning.
The "toy" was brought to Europe by french and english expeditioners and it was given the name of
"DIABALLO" (wich became Diabolo as we know it) word that comes from ancient Greek: "dia"
-through- and "ballo"-throw.
In France, since it's introduction, the game had been well accepted and considered as an
equivalent of Tennis ("jeu de Paume" at the time). Since 1810 clubs and competitions
were created, it had become a fashion in the upper class of Paris, at the time they were made out
of wood.
In 1906, the frenchman Gustave Philippart invents a diabolo made of metal and rubber cut out from
old tires: the modern diabolo was born!
Its enormous popularity invaded France and Great Britain. During WW1 it's popularity declined.
It has been rediscovered only in the 1980's thanks to newer materials and a greater precision in
its fabrication wich permits a wider range of tricks.
Famous Jugglers:
O.K. let's go on to the next page (the description).
Take me back to the front page.