{"title":"Kids › Games","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-bull-roarer","title":"Bull Roarer","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eBull Roarer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Bull Roarer is made from 1\/8-inch wood and is 7-1\/2 inches in length with a handle attached to a braided nylon cord approximately four feet long. The Bull Roarer comes packaged with a brief history. It also is available with Native American packaging. See our Native American Bull Roarer. Swing the paddle overhead in a circular motion to hear the loud roaring noise of an angry bull. For outdoor use. Adult supervision is recommended.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe bull roarer is a primitive wind instrument and one of the first musical instruments Man invented. It has been used by primitive cultures in Africa, Australia, New Guinea, Europe, the Americas, and the Arctic polar region. Its origins can be traced to 24,000 years ago! It has been a symbol of fertility, and evidence of them has been found in several Paleolithic sites.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bull roarer was an important acoustical part of various spiritual rituals and certain rites of passage in some areas of the world. When spun overhead in a circular motion, it produces a pleasing \"whirr, whirr\" hypnotic droning sound. This sound was incorporated into primitive rituals to produce a \"voice\" of an ancestor, a spirit, or deity. To others, its sound represented various insects and animals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bull roarer has been used for several purposes. It has been used to call out to the spirit world and to gain the attention of spiritual beings who were thought to be able to influence the natural elements, such as wind and rain. Hence, bull roarers are usually painted with various symbols representing clouds, raindrops, lightning, and other depictions. The Apaches in North America used bull roarers to call forth rain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis ancient wind instrument was made with a flat wooden board (called a \"rhomboid\") and pierced with a small hole at one of the ends for attaching a length of cord or rope. The rhomboid was sometimes carved, painted, or both. Sometimes animal bone or stone was substituted for the flat wood board. Oftentimes, a thong handle was tied to the other end of the cord for a better grip to control speed and direction.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bull roarer's sound is produced by vibrations of the flat wood as it rotates in the air. Changing in the speed and angle to the ground changes the sonority and allows an individual to make the sounds of a whimper, moan, roar, or scream.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere is not a typical range for bull roarers as each one is a one-of-a-kind instrument. Change the velocity of the spin, however, and the size of the instrument affects the relative pitch. The smaller the bull roarer, the faster it can be spun for a higher pitch. Conversely, a larger instrument spinning at a slower speed results in a lower pitch.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bull roarer has been used by Native American cultures such as the Athabaskan, Nootka, Yokuts, Pomo, Hopi, and Aztecs. The Navajo call their bull roarers \"Tsin di'ni\" (groaning stick) and used them to drive away evil spirits. It is called several different names, including \"Burliwarni,\" \"Ngurrarngay,\" and \"Muypak.\" Sometimes a bull roarer was used to send animals into ambush or to alert a tribe of another's presence in their area.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo the Maori, the bull roarer is called \"Purererhua\" (butterfly), and a smaller version (called a \"Porotiti\") was used for healing by spinning over areas of rheumatism or arthritis. (The sound's vibrations massaged joints in a similar way to modern ultrasound therapy!)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe main academics that have studied ancient bull roarers have been ethnomusicologists and anthropologists. This is because of the instrument's use in ritual and magic ceremonies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFun Fact:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe bull roarer is also called a Rhombus and is still used today as the \"voice of God\" by Aborigine tribes in Australia!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003eFun Fact:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e The bull roarer is an \"aerophone\" and, along with the flute, one of the oldest musical instruments of its kind!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 x 8.5 x 0.5\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583432847437,"sku":"TOYS1HF102","price":9.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_5.jpg?v=1769791772"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-button-and-string-puzzle","title":"Button and String Puzzle","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eButton and String Puzzle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Button and String Puzzle is 5-3\/4 inches long, made from natural hardwood and comes with a braided nylon cord and wooden button. The solution to this puzzle is included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Button and String Puzzle is also known as the Cinch Puzzle because it resembles cinch blocks used to tighten tent ropes during the American Civil War. The object of the puzzle is to remove the wood button and string from the block of wood without untying the string. A similar but much more complicated toy called The Puzzling Rings is described in great detail in \"The Boys Own Book,\" published in 1829. These kinds of puzzles are a great amusement for anyone traveling long distances. Keep this toy in your car or give it to a child who has everything, especially time on his or her hands!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.75 x 7.75 x 0.5\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583433470029,"sku":"TOYS1HF103","price":8.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_3.jpg?v=1769791328"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-games-cats-cradle-and-other-string-games","title":"Cat's Cradle and Other String Games","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eCat's Cradle and Other String Games\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Cat's Cradle and Other String Games uses the Haddon and Rivers terminology for defining the strings on the fingers and features jumbo yarn. Included are directions for four classic string games: Cup and Saucer, The Witch's Broom, Cat's Cradle, and Jacob's Ladder, as well as a brief history of string games.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eString games such as Cat's Cradle have been played around the world for thousands (if not millions) of years. It does not appear that this game has a particular origin; rather, it was developed independently by many cultures around the same time. Anthropologists began studying string games between 1880 and 1900. During the 1890s, two anthropologists -- Dr. Alfred C. Haddon and Dr. W.H. Rivers -- invented a language to use when describing string games which made collecting and documenting string games easier. Other anthropologists continue to use this language in their travels.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt seems that string figures were familiar to most native inhabitants of East Asia, Australia, Africa, the Arctic, the Americas, and the Pacific Islands. Some string games might even be from the Stone Age! Since actual \"string\" was not available in most of these regions, people used native sources like sinew or leather, twine made from bark, Hibiscus tree fiber, or even braided human hair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEach culture seems to have its own names for similar string figures. The names of the figures can tell us much about these cultures -- what was important to them spiritually, what kind of animals they had, what pictures they saw in the stars at night, and other significant beliefs. Some string games even included stories. String figures were used for fun most of the time, but other times they were used as good luck charms or to chase away \"bad spirits.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost string games are played with one or two pairs of hands, but some people have been known to use their toes, knees, elbows, and mouth. They can create some fabulous string patterns!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you become a serious string game enthusiast or are just a little more curious, check out the International String Figure Association (ISFA), which was founded in 1978 by Hiroshi Noguchi, a Japanese mathematician, and Philip Noble, an Anglican missionary, stationed in Paupa, New Guinea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 4.75 x 7.5 x 0.25\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583434223693,"sku":"TOYS1HF106","price":9.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler.jpg?v=1769717314"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-games-graces","title":"Historic Folk Toys: Games, 'Graces'","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eGraces\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Graces include four, 19-inch wooden wands and two 7-inch diameter wooden hoops tied with colorful ribbons, instructions, and a brief history. For two players outside on the lawn.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe historical game of Graces is meant to be played outdoors by two people. It was brought to America by the French where it was known as La Grace. Also known as The Flying Circle and French Hoops, it was most popular during the Victorian period, particularly with young ladies, and used for exercise and to teach gracefulness. Young men never played this game together but were willing to play with a lady. Times have changed and we now encourage everyone to play this game, young and old, boys and girls, men and women.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 7 x 17 x 2\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583434780749,"sku":"TOYS1HF109","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/products\/TOYS1HF109.jpg?v=1537128426"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-hopscotch-with-cloth-bag","title":"Hopscotch (with Cloth Bag)","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eHopscotch (with Cloth Bag)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Hopscotch (with cloth bag) game set includes jumbo sidewalk chalk; five glass \"pucks;\" instructions for five fun, traditional hopscotch games; and a brief history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e According to most sources, hopscotch was developed centuries ago in Great Britain during the Roman occupation. Because the original hopscotch courts were used for military training, they were over 100 feet long! These long courts represented the long 400-mile journey on the Great North Road connecting London, England, to Glasgow, Scotland. Roman soldiers used this road frequently, so a military exercise was developed to condition them for it. Roman soldiers tested their strength on these hopscotch courts by carrying heavy loads or wearing full armor. Today, football players go through similar conditioning drills by running through rows of truck tires in full gear.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is reported that Roman children made their own smaller courts to imitate the soldiers. The children developed a scoring system for their games, and hopscotch was born and spread throughout Europe. The word \"hop scotch\" literally came from hopping the long road to Glasgow, Scotland. Various cultures have developed their own games with different courts and rules. Other words for hopscotch are: \"marelles\" (France), \"templehupfen\" (Germany), \"hinkelbaan\" (The Netherlands), \"ekaria dukaria\" (India), \"pico\" (Vietnam), and \"rayuela\" (Argentina).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost hopscotch games are played with a \"puck\" or \"potsey.\" The puck can be a stone, rock, a piece of flat glass, crockery, or just about anything that can be thrown onto the courts. The courts can be drawn with chalk on a concrete surface or with a stick on a bare spot of level ground. Generally, hopscotch games are played by tossing the puck into a drawn section and hopping in a specific way through the court and back. There are rules against stepping on a line, missing a square, or losing your balance and touching the court with a hand. The first person to complete the course is the winner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eToday, we think of Hopscotch as a children's game, particularly for girls. The game of Hopscotch is featured in \"The Boy's Own Book\" by William Clark, first published in 1829. This book was considered \"A popular encyclopedia of the sports and pastimes of youth.\" Interestingly, the game of hopscotch is not featured in \"The Girl's Own Book\" by L. Maria Child, published in 1834. Hopscotch was considered a boy's game, as depicted by five boys playing the game in the illustration \"Scotch Hoppers\" from \"Juvenile Games for the Four Seasons.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 4.5 x 7.5 x 1.75\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583434813517,"sku":"TOYS1HF111","price":10.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_10.jpg?v=1769793901"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-jacks-with-suede-pouch","title":"Jacks (with Suede Pouch)","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eJacks (with Suede Pouch)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Jacks (with suede pouch) set includes twelve metal jacks, one rubber ball, one wooden ball, a drawstring suede pouch, instructions for five jacks games, and a brief history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Jacks, in its original form, was played in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. This game was also known as Jackstones, Five Stones, Knucklebones, and other names. Knucklebones eventually led to the game of dice (which was mostly played by boys) and to the game of jacks (which was mostly played by girls). Jacks is a game of skill, as are earlier games that involve throwing the jacks into the air and catching them, or bouncing a ball and picking up a certain number of jacks from a surface. Children all over the world have played some form of jacks for centuries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 4.25 x 5.5 x 0.25\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583434846285,"sku":"TOYS1HF113","price":12.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_7.jpg?v=1769792102"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-jacobs-ladder","title":"Jacob's Ladder","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eJacob's Ladder\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Jacob's Ladder is an old-fashioned toy made from six wooden blocks measuring 2-1\/2 inches by 3 inches that are connected with black cotton ribbon. Hold the top block and watch the others \"descend\" like someone on a ladder. The Jacob's Ladder is one of the toys that early American children were allowed to play with on Sundays.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe Jacob's Ladder toy dates back to Pilgrim times in the New World and was allowed as a Sunday toy for Puritan children because of its biblical reference (Genesis 28:12). Jacob was on a journey and had a dream about angels moving up and down a ladder between heaven and earth. Other Sunday toys included the Handkerchief Doll (church doll), Noah's Ark, Whirlygig, Pillars of Solomon, Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, and the Buzz Saw. The Jacob's Ladder toy is still enjoyed today by both children and adults (as a \"nice quiet toy\").\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5 x 6 x 2\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583434944589,"sku":"TOYS1HF114","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_8.jpg?v=1769793140"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-jump-rope-set-with-book","title":"Jump Rope Set with Book","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eJump Rope Set with Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Jump Rope Set includes The Jump Rope Book, and a six-foot rope with wooden handles. The Jump Rope Book includes 18 popular children's jump rope rhymes plus variations, information on Chinese Jump Rope and Double Dutch, and is also sold separately.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The history of jump rope activities has been traced as far back as 1600 A.D. from paintings that depict children jumping rope on European cobblestone streets. Jumping rope began as a boys' only game. When American girls began to play this sport, they added rhymes and sing-song games, such as those that appear in The Jump Rope Book.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5 x 7.75 x 1.75\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583435010125,"sku":"TOYS1HF115","price":16.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_16.jpg?v=1769795365"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-marbles-with-suede-pouch","title":"Marbles (with Suede Pouch)","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eMarbles (with Suede Pouch)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Marbles (with suede pouch) set includes a half-cup of glass marbles, two large shooters, a drawstring suede pouch, instructions for three marble games, and a brief history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The history of marbles dates back to at least 3,000 years ago in ancient Egypt and Rome. The Roman poet Ovid wrote of the game of marbles. The oldest marbles found so far were buried with an Egyptian child at Nagada. Marbles from Crete that date back to 2000-1705 B.C. are displayed in the British Museum. Marbles have also been found in ancient Native American earthen mounds in North America. During the reign of Elizabeth I, tradition has it that a game of marbles was played to win the hand of a maiden.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe word \"marble\" was not used to represent the round toy ball made from various stones until 1694 in England. It was then that marble stone was being used for the toy and was being imported from Germany. Before this time, the English adopted the Dutch word \"knikkers\" for marbles. The word \"knikker\" was used by New York City children well into the 19th century.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe earliest marbles were made of flint, stone, and baked clay. For centuries afterward, marbles were made of stone and sometimes real marble. Glass marbles were made in Venice, Italy, and later, around 1800, china and crockery marbles were introduced. A glassblower invented a tool called the \"marble scissors\" in 1846 that allowed a larger production of glass marbles. Clay marbles began being produced in large quantities around 1870.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the 1890s, the first machines to manufacture glass marbles were introduced. Martin F. Christensen invented the revolutionary glass marble-making machine in 1902, and his glass marble company produced over a million marbles each month. Horace Hill founded a company named the Akro Agate Company and moved it from Akron, Ohio, to Clarksburg, West Virginia, because natural gas and sand were more abundant in that area. By 1920, the Akro Agate Company was the largest marble producer in the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBerry Pink of the Marble King Company helped promote local and national marbles tournaments in America during the 1920s and 1930s. The National Marbles Tournament is still held annually in Wildwood, New Jersey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJeff Carskadden and Richard Gartley are recognized mibologists who have published the most scholarly works to date on the subject of toy marbles. Their research shows nine marble games that can be found on 17th- and 18th-century Dutch wall tiles. \"Mib\" is the Latin word for marbles; \"ology\" is Latin for \"the study of.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMarble games can be divided into two types: the games in which a player tries to knock his opponent's marbles with his own (and win the marbles), and the games in which a player tries to hit a target or roll the opponent's marble through a hoop or into a hole.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere are specific ways to play marbles and to hold what is called the \"shooter marble,\" which is a larger than the regular playing marbles. One method of shooting is called \"knuckling\"; and another way is called \"fulking.\" One can also roll or flick the marble until these other two methods are learned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMarble terminology:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShooter -- taw\u003cbr\u003eAlleys -- marbles once made of alabaster\u003cbr\u003eFlints -- marble that look like flint\u003cbr\u003eCloudies -- marbles that look cloudy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMarbles are definitely a part of America's heritage. They have been a popular American game from Colonial times to the present. Norman Rockwell painted a wonderful picture called \"Marbles Champ,\" which features a little girl winning the marbles of two forlorn boys. If you are interested in marbles, you can visit the Marble Museum in Yreka, California or online at www.marblemuseum.org.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 4.75 x 6 x 1\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583435075661,"sku":"TOYS1HF116","price":15.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_19.jpg?v=1769796201"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-ox-yoke-puzzle","title":"Historic Folk Toys: Game, 'Ox Yoke Puzzle'","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eOx Yoke Puzzle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWooden string and ring puzzle. The object of the Ox-Yoke Puzzle is to move one ring from the string loop on one side of the puzzle to the string loop on the other side of the puzzle without untying knots or cutting the string. Also known as the \"Lover's Yoke Puzzle.\" Puzzle is 6-1\/4\" x 1 inch. Solution is included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePuzzles have been a source of amusement and entertainment since the 3rd century B.C. If there were a \"golden age of puzzles,\" it was probably around the end of the 1800s and early part of the 20th century. It was during this period that the first patents for puzzles were granted. Since then, new types of puzzles have been created due to the inventions of new materials (particularly plastics) and manufacturing technologies (such as injectiontool molding).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Ox-Yoke Puzzle (2104) belongs to a group of string puzzles that were popular during the mid-1800s and early 1900s. In fact, these puzzles are still mind bogglers for all ages today. Our Ox-Yoke Puzzle is still made the old-fashioned way with wood and string.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe object of the Ox-Yoke Puzzle is to move one wooden ring from the string loop on one side of the puzzle to the string loop on the other side of the puzzle without untying knots or cutting the string. Solution included! Puzzle is 6-1\/4\" in length.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFun Fact:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e The Ox-Yoke Puzzle is also known as the \"Lover's Yoke Puzzle.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.75 x 7.75 x 0.5\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583435108429,"sku":"TOYS1HF117","price":6.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/products\/TOYS1HF117.jpg?v=1537128134"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-bamboo-pick-up-sticks","title":"Historic Folk Toys: Game, 'Bamboo Pick Up Sticks'","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eBamboo Pick Up Sticks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Bamboo Pick-Up Sticks are 7-1\/8 inches long. The 41 sticks come packaged in a wooden box with a sliding lid. Box size is approximately 7-1\/2 inches long by 1-3\/4 wide by 1 inch high. Instructions and history are included.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Stick games appear in many cultures. In 12th-century China, sticks were first used in predictions. The sticks were scattered to \"base the reading of destiny.\" There was one stick called the \"emperor stick.\" This oracle practice was adapted by the Japanese in the 16th century. The Japanese Emperor was referred to as \"Mikado\" from the word \"tsuchimikado.\" The Mikado version of pick-up sticks was brought to the United States in 1936 from Hungary. The name pick-up sticks may have come from this children's nursery rhyme:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne, two, buckle my shoe, \u003cbr\u003eThree, four, shut the door, \u003cbr\u003eFive, six, pick up sticks, \u003cbr\u003eSeven, eight, lay them straight, \u003cbr\u003eNine, ten, a big fat hen.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore the Mikado version of pick-up sticks appeared in America, this game had spread from China to Korea and Japan. This game appears to have spread to the Haida Indians of British Columbia as well as the Lenape Native American tribe in California via the Bering Strait or by ship across the Pacific Ocean. Native Americans played this game with straws of wheat and taught it to the early English settlers in the American colonies. This became a popular parlor game for young people during the Colonial and Victorian eras and is still enjoyed by children today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCanadians refer to this game as \"Spilikins,\" which is the name used by the British. A drawing of a set of intricately carved ivory spellicans (different spelling) is featured in R.C. Bell's book, \"Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations.\" The British spellican sets, which feature carved bone or ivory, were imported from China.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you wish to make your own mini set of pick-up sticks, use 31 round toothpicks and paint different colored stripes on them to represent different points. Make one stick a solid color or with just one stripe to represent the Mikado or \"emperor stick.\" This stick can be used to assist picking up the other sticks after they are scattered or dropped. Keep score on paper and have some old-fashioned fun. The next time you play pick-up sticks, you will know that you are having fun just as children in ancient times did.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 x 11 x 1.25\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583435534413,"sku":"TOYS1HF119B","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/products\/TOYS1HF119B.jpg?v=1537127542"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-tic-tac-toe","title":"Historic Folk Toys: Game, 'Tic Tac Toe'","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eTic Tac Toe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur hardwood Tic Tac Toe board has two compartments, which hold two sets of solid-colored marbles. The game board measures 3-1\/2 inches by 3-1\/2 inches by 3\/4 of an inch and is a great traveling companion for two players in the back seat of a car.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Tic Tac Toe was originally known as Noughts and Crosses and has been played in the United Kingdom for centuries. The same playing grid used for this game was also found etched into surfaces throughout the ancient Roman Empire, proving its popularity. Even though no playing pieces have been found that confirm this was the same game, the Roman game Terri Lapilli is thought to be an identical game.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTic Tac Toe is played with two players that take turns placing their chosen piece (a Naught \"o\" or a Cross \"x\") on the game board, which is a 3-inch by 3-inch grid. The first player to complete a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally is the winner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFun Fact:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e In 1952, Tic Tac Toe was programmed to be played on a computer called EDSAC, which was built at Cambridge University in 1949. It played perfect games against all its human opponents.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5 x 6.5 x 1\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583435632717,"sku":"TOYS1HF123","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/products\/TOYS1HF123.jpg?v=1537128295"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-wooden-dice","title":"Wooden Dice","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eWooden Dice\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis traditional Wooden Dice set comes with three wooden dice, instructions for seven easy-to-play dice games for children, and a brief history. \"Let 'em roll!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Playing with dice dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. Dice are commonly associated with gambling but there are many other games that can be played for fun. Names for the forerunners of dice games were Astragali and Knucklebones. A game of this type is depicted in a 3rd-century B.C. Roman sculpture featuring two girls close to the ground, one of them in the position to roll. Astragali are the knucklebones of a goat. Other knucklebones are the dried ankle bones of sheep and have four different sides, flat, concave, convex, and one sinuous or curvy side. The name \"k'ab\" is the Arabic word for \"knucklebone\" and \"die.\" The game of jacks is also known as \"knucklebones\" because sheep bones were used to play a game which was the forerunner of jacks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen playing dice-like games, values were given to each side of the knucklebones. The bones were tossed into the air and a player tried to have them land on the back of the hand or on the ground. Points were determined and scores kept. Eventually, six-sided cubed dice replaced the bones. A cube-shaped dotted die dated 600 B.C. from the Greek colony of Naucratis, Egypt, was discovered by Flinders Petrie.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eColonial American children played with dice and wealthy families would have had ivory dice, while the \"common folk\" would have used wooden dice. Dice have been made of bone, antler, ivory, horn, wood and, later during the American Revolutionary War, soldiers made dice out of lead bullets and played dice games to pass the time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDominoes are closely associated with dice. Domino spots look like two dice placed side by side. Dominoes, along with dice, may have been used in fortune telling as long ago as 1120 A.D.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs with playing cards, dice had gambling issues that caused prohibitions and ordinances to be passed. In 1364 in St. Gallen Switzerland, an ordinance forbade dice games, allowed board games, but did not mention playing cards. In 1382 in Lille, France, an ordinance forbade various games, including dice and \"quartes\" (an early word for cards). In the same year in Barcelona, Spain, an ordinance prohibited dice and cards in just one home of a certain town official. Fifteen years later in Paris, France, a decree was issued forbidding working people to play dice and other gambling-type games on working days.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany dice games made use of a cup to shake the dice in, rather than in a hand. It seems that this method kept some players from \"palming\" loaded dice. Loaded dice are dice that have been tampered with to cause a predictable outcome. The \"shaker cup\" supposedly made dice playing a fair game. The dice could, however, still be \"loaded\" by a skilled cheat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.75 x 5.25 x 0.75\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583435698253,"sku":"TOYS1HF124","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_15.jpg?v=1769795209"},{"product_id":"historic-folk-toys-game-wooden-dominoes","title":"Wooden Dominoes","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eWooden Dominoes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Wooden Dominoes set contains 28 double-six wooden dominoes, rules for play, and comes packaged in a wooden storage box with sliding lid. The storage box measures 6-3\/4 inches by 1-1\/2 inches by 2-1\/4 inches.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe Inuit game of \"Á ma zú a lát\" is similar to the game of dominoes. The Eskimo name for dominoes means \"standing upright side by side.\" The European game of dominoes seems to have been borrowed from the Chinese, but only the math elements were retained.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDominoes have had shapes other than the flat, small pieces we now know. In Korea, dominoes were long, cube-shaped, bone-faced bamboo pieces. In India, \"pase\" dice-looking dominoes are long rectangular, cubed dice with pointed ends and are made of bone or ivory prisms, marked on four sides.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDominoes may have originally been used as counters in dice games or in a method of fortune telling with dice. In the year 1120 A.D., the dominoes we know today existed in China and it is believed that dominoes descended from dice around this time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe game of dominoes was a popular game during Colonial American times and continues to be a favorite American game. Dominoes are as popular with adults as they are with children. Many Irish pubs feature domino games and sponsor domino contests.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePACKAGE DIMENSIONS -\u003c\/strong\u003e 6 x 2 x 1.25\"","brand":"Historical Folk Toys, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12583435763789,"sku":"TOYS1HF125","price":8.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/cts_crsdler_17.jpg?v=1769795551"},{"product_id":"howard-printing-coloring-book-abby-in-vermont","title":"Howard Printing: Coloring Book, 'Abby in Vermont'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'Abby in Vermont' is an exciting coloring and activity book for children ages 3 and up. It features fun facts throughout about the \"\u003cem\u003eGreen Mountain State\u003c\/em\u003e\", Vermont, as well as coloring and educational activity pages.\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRODUCT DETAILS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Howard Printing\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Sarah Adam\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Softcover\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Pages: 15\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Images: 29\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 9 x 11 Inches (US)\u003cbr\u003eOriginal publication year: 2008\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9780979379017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Howard Printing Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":28406491447373,"sku":"BOOK1HP101","price":5.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/abby.jpg?v=1779722327"},{"product_id":"howard-printing-coloring-book-abcs-of-vermont","title":"Howard Printing: Coloring Book, 'ABC's of Vermont'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eABC's of Vermont\u003c\/em\u003e coloring and activity book teaches kids ages 3 and up, about the ABC's in an exciting way through \"Vermontiana\" imagery. Front and back cover are full color images and the inside has pages to color and draw, as well as word searches and other fun puzzles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRODUCT DETAILS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Howard Printing\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Sarah Dupeyron\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Softcover\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Pages: 29\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Images: 27\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 9 x 11 Inches (US)\u003cbr\u003eOriginal publication year: 2007\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9780979379000\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Howard Printing Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":28406491480141,"sku":"BOOK1HP102","price":5.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/abcs.jpg?v=1779639596"},{"product_id":"butternut-mountain-farm-sugarhouse-coloring-book-book1bf101","title":"Butternut Mountain Farm: Coloring Book, 'Welcome to Our Sugarhouse'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWelcome to Our Sugarhouse is an excellent coloring book with a story that teaches children and adults about the origins of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emaple syrup and how it gets to the table.  Front and back cover are full color images and the inside has pages to color and draw, while explaining the history and process of maple syrup.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \n\n  \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRODUCT DETAILS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Pyramid Publishing\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Jean Fischer\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Softcover\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Pages: 16\u003cbr\u003eNumber of Images: 31\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 8 x 10 Inches (US)\u003cbr\u003eOriginal publication year: 2002\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 1885920775\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Butternut Mountain Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42303079874740,"sku":"BOOK1BF101","price":2.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2187\/2175\/files\/coloring-book.webp?v=1777300951"}],"url":"https:\/\/store.benningtonmuseum.org\/collections\/kids-games\/toy.oembed","provider":"Bennington Museum STORE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}