Elizabethan Skittles

When the first colonists came to the New World, they brought English customs with them. One of these was a game called skittles (also later known as nine-pins). Although the rules are definitely different, it reminded me of bowling.

To play this game, nine large, wooden  pegs or pins are set up. Then, the player throws a hunk of rounded wood, often called the "cheese," at the pins. However, the cheese must bounce once and only once. It cannot hit, slide, or scoot into the pins without bouncing.

There are different ways of scoring in the game, and, in England, these varied as to the region. The game also has a long history, and is still played today.

Some tourist sites also demonstrate the game. In fact, sometimes visitors are allowed to play at locations, like Roanoke Island Festival Park on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Why not plan a fun day of it?

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