National Bowling Day: History And Facts About The Game

National Bowling Day is celebrated every second Saturday of August. Probably the oldest game in history, countless people across the world enjoy bowling for the camaraderie and the health benefits it provides.

While bowling may have been around for centuries, setting aside a day for the event only began in the 1950s. The Bowling Proprietor’s Association of America, with help of NBC and the General Cigar Company, held tournaments to raise funds for the American Red Cross in 1956. This year, the day falls on Aug. 14.

Though another tournament was never held, the idea inspired the start of National Bowling Day — a day celebrated ever since.

History

In the 1930s, British anthropologist Sir Flinders Petrie made a stunning discovery, an ancient bowling set inside the grave of a child. The interesting fact was that the grave dated back nearly 5,000 years, to the height of the ancient Egyptian empire.

Ever since, hieroglyphics and artwork depicting a sport remarkably similar to modern-day bowling were unearthed by other anthropologists. And the remnants of the first indoor bowling alleyways were discovered by Professor Edda Bresciani of the University of Pisa. Bresciani discovered an ancient hall approximately 90 miles south of Cairo that appears to be one of the first indoor bowling alleyways, according to The Bowling Universe.

However, historians say modern-day bowling appears to have its roots in Germany, dating back to 300 CE. German historian William Pehle asserts most Germans carried kegels, a wooden, pin-shaped rod for sport and protection. The belief was that knocking down these kegels, or pins, with a rock would pardon their sins.

England records its first evidence of bowling in Southampton, dating back to 1299. It is said King Henry III banned bowling in 1366 as it distracted soldiers from archery practice.

As for America, bowling was brought here by British, German and Dutch settlers. The earliest known evidence of bowling has depictions of Dutchmen playing a version of the game in New York in the 1670s.

Facts

1) Bowling balls were first made of wood before heavy rubber was used. However, by the 1960s, polyester resins became the main raw material.

2) While Kelly Kulick was the first woman to win a title on the Professional Bowlers Association tour in 2010, 9-year-old bowling prodigy Hannah Diem just became the youngest person in the United States to bowl a perfect game.

3) The White House got its first bowling alley in 1948 when two bowling lanes were built in the West Wing as a birthday gift to the president at the time, Harry S. Truman.

4) The largest bowling alley in the world is Inazawa Grand Bowl in Japan, featuring 116 consecutive Brunswick Bowling wooden lanes on a single floor.