Hula-Hoops Still Popular Today

Ah, the hula-hoop, that fantastically simple toy that we all have loved — or hated — at some point in our lives, was patented on March 5 in 1963. The toy became a fad immediately in the US, but the origins go way back before Wham-O co-founder Arthur "Spud" Melin re-invented it and gave it its name.

It is believed that ancient Greeks used large rings made of metal, bamboo, wood, or vines to circle around their waist for exercise. No one knows for sure where or when the first hula-hoop was used but children in the US were not the first to adopt the revolving ring. Melin, and fellow co-founder of Wham-O, Richard Knerr, first spotted a similar hoop being used by Australian school children in gym class. They decided to bring the concept to America and dubbed it the hula-hoop because the hip motions reminded them of hula dancers in Hawaii.

Wham-O really hit it big and hula-hoops were a hugely popular with kids in the late '50s and early '60s, along with the company's other circular hit, the Frisbee. However, the hula-hoop has evolved into much more than a toy. Today, hooping has become an art form and can be seen in cirque shows around the world. The performers can twirl multiple hoops down the entire length of their body, tumble and dance while keeping the motion going, and circle hoops while in contorted positions.

Even for those of us not up to professional cirque status, hula-hooping has re-emerged as a popular form of exercise, with classes now in gyms and on DVD. Blasting calories and toning muscles, often by using heavier hoops, is proving to be an excellent way to get fit while having fun and feeling like a kid again. Hula-hooping is here to stay.

Photo by Tony the Misfit via Flickr, photo by Thomas Hawk via Flickr.