Two women play the historic game of Graces with wooden sticks and hoops at the America 250 NC booth during an outdoor event. A staff member stands nearby under a red tent with informational displays and materials on the table.

Still in Play: The Historic Game of Graces Lives on at Historical Events

America 250 NC spreads the history of fun of a classic historic game at their community events.

Author: Chelsea Kiefer

The game of Graces has entertained generations of Americas, and the America 250 NC team continues to share this lively tradition at events.

Graphic sign advertising information on the game of Graces and inviting the public to play

This historic game, originally from France, was popular in the 1800s in America. The two-player game, which involves one hoop and four sticks, is known by several names: Graces, La Grace, The Graces, and The Flying Circle. Most of these names allude to the fact that the early introduction of the activity was meant to encourage gracefulness, elegance, and coordination in young girls.

Two young child play Graces by a blue and red America 250 NC tent at an outdoor event.

Historically, Graces was considered a game for girls, so boys were not commonly interested in playing. When boys did join in, they typically partnered with a girl, and it was extremely rare to see two boys playing together in the 1800s. Today, North Carolinians of all ages and genders enjoy the game together, bonding over this timeless pastime. 

During the game, each player holds two sticks in an X shape. The ribbon-decorated hoop goes on the X, and the two sticks are quickly pulled apart to launch the hoop into the air and toward the other player, who will attempt to catch it on their sticks. 

Two men play Graces by a blue and red America 250 NC tent at an outdoor event.

The excitement of the game is to see how many times players can pass the hoop back and forth without dropping it. Then, try it while standing farther and farther apart!

Visit the America 250 NC table at our upcoming events and experience the challenging fun of Graces for yourself!

 

Bibliography

 

Alamance Battleground. “Toys and Play in Eighteenth-Century America.” www.ncpedia.org, June 14, 2024. https://www.ncpedia.org/media/video/toys-and-play.

 

Child, Maria Lydia. The Girl’s Own Book. New York: Clark Austin & Co, 1833. https://archive.org/details/girlsownbook02chil/.

 

National Park Service. “Children’s Activities - Games - Fort Scott National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service).” Nps.gov, 2016. https://www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/education/childrengame.htm.