Another Cultural Question -Ten Pin Bowling - A History

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Kathryn Cawte" <kcawte at n...>
wrote:
> David

> >
> > No, I think you are picturing the right game.  I had always thought
> > of tenpin bowling as an American import here, though!  
> >
> 


> K:
> 
> You're totally right - and it is an American import afaik, but not a
> *new* American import. It's been well enough known since the late 
> seventies that
>  
> K

bboy_mn:

I thought you would never ask....

Bowing has been popular with millions of people for thousands of years!

Bowling balls and pins were found in the tomb of an Egyptian king who
died in 5,200 B.C. The ancient Polynesians bowled on lanes that were
60 feet long, the same as today.

Bowling was part of a religious ceremony in fourth century Germany.
Those who could knock down the pins were said to be of good character.
Those who missed had to do penance. Even Martin Luther was a bowler.
British kings Edward II and Richard II banned bowling because they
said people were wasting too much time playing the sport. But Sir
Francis Drake played a game of bowls before he went to war against the
Spanish Armada.

Bowling has been popular in America since Colonial days. The British
imported lawn bowling but German settlers introduced ninepins, the
ancient game that evolved into today's modern tenpin sport.

Because of confusion over playing standards, the top bowlers of the
19th century decided that the sport needed a standard set of rules.
They started the American Bowling Congress in 1895. The Women's
International Bowling Congress was started in 1916. 

Just passing it along.

bboy_mn