This game probably had it's origins when the wheel was first invented! The intent of the game is for each player to use an implement to propel a hoop on a designated course, and be the first to arrive at a designated finish line.
Only the propelling implement can be used - touching the hoop with a hand looses the game for a player. If the hoop is thrown off course by an obstacle on the course, recovery can only be made using the propelling implement. The propelling implement could be a piece of wood or metal as illustrated in the painting.
While the rim of a wheel could be used for this game, by Brueghel's time and for a few centuries after that, children were using barrel hoops for this purpose. In the 1960s these gave way to plastic hoops - the Hula Hoop. Because of their light weight, in addition to racing Hula Hoops, a number of gymnastic feats became the dominant mode of hoop use.
Last update February 9, 2010