The game of bowling is a muggle sport, played with 10 pins and a large ball.
Bowling:ˈbō-liŋ any of several games in which balls are rolled on a green or down an alley at an object or group of objects
Let's dive into the fascinating history of this muggle game.
History of Bowling:
Ancient Egypt:
Bowling traces its roots all the back to 5200 BC during the height of the Egyptians. Its beginnings were discovered by an English anthropologist back in the 1930's. Sir Flinder Petrie discovered the game in the tomb of an Egyptian child. The primitive lane was the start of archeologists discovering signs of the game. Hieroglyphics and pictures were later discovered that resemble the modern version of the game muggles play today.
The game wasn't just played in the graves of small children. A professor from the University of Pisa discovered about 90 miles south of Cairo, possibly the first indoor bowling alley.
Bowling as a Religious Rite:
Modern bowling seems to set its roots in Germany. In the third and fourth century, the game was more of a religious rite. Back in those days, everyone carried around heavy clubs called kegels. Those clubs would be used as pins, and represented sins, evil, and the devil. Players would then roll a heavy stone in attempts to knock over their sins and the evil within them. If the bowler managed to knock over the kegels, he was considered to have cleansed himself of his sins. If he failed to do so, he knew he needed to work harder on becoming a better Christian. It is said that Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reform, decided how many pins would be used in the game. Before, the game would be played with anywhere between 3 and 17 pins. Luther supposedly standardized the game with only 9 pins back in 16th century.
Bowling's Ban-Filled History in England:
History disputes when bowling was first introduced into England. The earliest known evidence of the game is from 1299, where an old bowling green was found. Less than 100 years later, in 1366, King Henry III banned the sport because it allegedly distracted his army from archery practice. By the 1400's the outdoor bowling greens were unbanned and had a roofs built over them so the game could be played during bad weather. By 1511, King Henry VI banned the game again to try and keep the sport for the wealthy only.
Bowling Brought to America:
As immigrants moved to America, so did the game of bowling. English, Dutch, and German immigrants all passionate for the game are most likely the reason the game spread the most. The earliest recorded game in New York dates back to 1670. The game quickly took off, along with gambling on the sport. In 1841, the state of Connecticut banned the game of 9 pin bowling because of the gambling that went along with it. Being the rebellious bunch that Americans are, they added a 10th pin and positioned the pins differently to avoid the ban. While Americans still play 10 pin bowling, in Germany, players still play the 9 pin game.
With bowling spreading across the new country and being influenced heavily by the culture of each region, it was decided there needed to be a regulatory committee to oversee the sport. In 1895, the American Bowling Congress was established in New York City.
Magical Applications:
While there are many muggle and magical sports with similarities, bowling is one that doesn't seem to have a magical match. Wizards tend to prefer games with explosions, and bowling does not offer that.