History of Bocce
Not knowing the history of the game many people today think it was the Italians that invented bocce. Why, because Italians play bocce.
This is far from the truth. The Italians actually modified the game to their own liking as did the French, Greeks and the English. The first ever documentation of bocce was in Egypt. An English scientist named Sir Francis Petrial discovered a painting in an Egyptian tomb of two little boys playing . This was around 5200 BC.
Bocce was played in Palestine and in Asia Minor. The French modified the game by developing a something similar called "boules". Bocce was picked up by the Greeks and it was they who introduced it to the Italians. The Romans really took to the game. Everyone played bocce in Italy. It was their favorite pastime. Giussepi Garibaldi is the person who made the sport as it is today. At one time, the Pope banned bocce saying it was a form of gambeling.
During Rome's Punic Wars against Carthage, which started in 264 B.C. Soldiers selected a small stone called a "leader" and threw it first. Then larger stones would be thrown at the "leader" and the stone coming closest to it would score. The game provided exercise and relaxation for the soldiers. Teams were composed of two, four, six, or eight men and the score would vary from 16 to 24 points per game. The first Bocce Olympiad was held in Athens Greece in 1896 and has been a part of the international sport ever since.
The first bocce matches were played with round rocks… Then someone brought back coconuts from the islands and they were used. Earlier balls were made from the roots of an olive tree. Today balls are made of steel and of plastic composition.
Lawn bowling, nine pens, pentanque, skittles and the weekly competition down at the bowling alley all originated from those two little boys in Eqypt.
In the British Isles, which is now Emgland, The King of England at one time
for national security reasons also placed a ban on bocce. Saying too many citizens were not taking up archery and were playing bocce.
As the Italian migrated to the United States to find a better way of life. Stored away in their trunks among their other belongings were their bocce sets.
My wife today has her grandfather bocce set he had packed away in his old trunk as he checked thru Ellis Island in New York Harbor when he ventured to the new world. The Italians brought the with them to the United States their own entertainment. They are larger and more crude than the 107mm tournament balls we use today. They are however truly antiques from the old world.
One can find bocce in every state of the union. I’ve always said anyplace you find an Italian settlement….you can find a game of bocce.
Italians are the nationality responsible for bringing this wonderful game to America. From New York to Boston, Philadelphia to Detroit Chicago to St. Louis and as far as California you can find bocce. There are bocce clubs in every city. I could go on and on about the clubs and Italian organizations across the United States. If one really wants to research the finer elements about the history and the game of bocce……Click on your world wide web search engine for “bocce”. You will be surprised of all the information at your finger tips.
.....and remember: "You don't have to be an Italian to play"
