Hula hoops have provided fun for generations, but they have been around for much longer than that.
History of the Name
Sailors gave the hula hoop its "hula" when they landed in Hawaii. They were struck by the similarity between the movements of the hula dancers and the movement needed to keep a hula hoop going.
Time Frame
Hula hoops have been around in one form or another for at least 3,000 years. It was in the 19th century that sailors in Hawaii gave the hula hoop its name. In the 1950s, a hula hoop craze swept the United States.
Types
Since the 1950s, hula hoops have primarily been made of colored plastic. Before that, they had been made of wood or bamboo. In the beginning, hula hoops were made out of grass and other plants.
Tiki Collectibles
After World War II, military personnel stationed in Hawaii brought back Hawaiian memorabilia. Hawaiian-themed stores and restaurants began to open on the mainland, coinciding with the hula hoop craze that was sweeping the nation.
Geography
Along with the United States, hula hoops have been popular in Greece, Egypt and Australia.
Conclusion
Although its craze in the United States was short-lived, hula hoops have been a source of entertainment for children for years.
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