The Egg dance

The Egg Dance was a traditional game played during the springtime folk festivities of 16th and 17th Century Holland. A chalk circle would be drawn on the floor (usually in a tavern where revelries would run high), encircling an obstacle course of flowers, vegetables and an assortment of debris. Then, accompanied by the music of bagpipes, the players would take it in turn to use their feet to roll an egg out of a bowl, keeping it within the circle, finally turning the bowl upside down back on top of the egg. The challenge was to complete the movement without touching the flowers, leaves or anything else, all the while ensuring the egg remained whole. The first player to succeed would win a spring-themed prize, usually a basket of eggs.