I read that ancient Greek and Roman children played games with hoops. Is that true?

Hoop rolling was a favorite sport among all ages in ancient Greece and Rome. A person took a large iron or bronze hood and rolled it using a crooked stick. Sometimes bells or rings were attached to the hoop. These made a jingling noise as the hoop rolled along.

What are chansons de geste?

Chansons de geste, French for "songs of valorous deeds," were the action movies of the Middle Ages. Exciting entertainment, they told of conflicts between superheroes and supervillians. Professional storytellers called jongleurs performed these action-packed stories wherever knights gathered. Nearly 100 of these Old French epics survive. Many tell of Charlemagne, Roland, and the 12 peers. Their length, verse form, and artistic merit varied. The chansons were sung or chanted, but almost none of the music is known today. Although sometimes based on historical characters and events, chansons de geste are not history. Rather, they are imaginary celebrations of the feudal virtues of courage and loyalty.

Greek actors wore masks. What were they made of?

Greek actors wore large, elaborate masks that were constructed from a framework of wood or cork. They then covered the frame with brightly painted leather, or linen stiffened with clay. Inside some was a small megaphone-type device that helped project the actor's voice. The mask fit like a helmet, entirely covering the actor's head and resting on his shoulders. (Women were not allowed to act.) The Greeks had a number of standard masks. Each represented a particular type of character in a play.

What did the ancient Greeks do for entertainment?

Greek adults participated in recreational activities that are very similar to those of today. They enjoyed singing and dancing and attended the theater. Sporting events were also quite popular. Today, we hear much about the Greeks and the Olympic games, but there were many others - all connected in some way with their religious beliefs. The Greeks also played board games and perhaps gambled a bit. The children loved ball games and played many that you would probably find familiar - four squares, for example. Swings, seesaws, and yo-yo's were other favorites.

What is "T'shu-p'u"?

"T'shu-p'u" is a popular Chinese board game that dates back at least to 500 B.C. It belongs to a group of games called race games, where pieces are raced along a course on a board and then taken off. "T'shu-p'u" uses rectangular dice, similar to the primitive stick-dice made thousands of years ago, when Asians marked the long sides of sticks and animal bones to toss for gambling. Four players form two teams. The object of the game is to be the first team to race around the board, into the center, and off the board.

I have heard about a festival called the "up-Helly-aa," what is it?

The "Up-Helly-Aa" is thought to be a Viking festival, but actually it celebrates the pride the people of the Shetland Islands take in their Viking heritage. It takes place every year in Lerwick on the last Tuesday in January. Half of the town's residents dress as Vikings and half in costumes that represent the year's theme. After lighting great torches, all drag a 33-foot model Viking boat from the town hall to the center of town. Then comes the great moment when they set the model ablaze by hurling their great torches into the boat. To learn more about "Up-Helly-Aa" visit: www.up-helly-aa.org.uk

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