Every country has its unique sporting culture, and some sports are more popular than others. For example, people in Sweden love their ice hockey, and the sport is part of their culture. However, something that doesn’t have the same popularity is the sport of throwing octopus on the hockey rink. Let’s take a look at why these animals are hurled around the rink and how the tradition started.
Table of Contents
The Throwing Game
Hockey has been around for many years, and it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the game began to receive some serious popularity. Back then, the game was more than just a sport—it was part of everyday life. In many parts of Canada and the United States, people would skate to work in the winter, and play hockey in the summer. These days, people usually associate the winter sport with Finland, Sweden, and the Soviet Union, and the summer sport with Canada and the United States.
The game of hockey has evolved over the years. Back in the day, players would just skate around with a ball and a stick, trying to hit it with other players. Now, the sport is generally associated with team play and the use of pucks, and the opponents try to stop the other team’s players from getting the puck into the goal.
A Means Of Self-expression
In some countries, like Argentina and Norway, the tradition of throwing animals on the sports field comes from the practice of animal racing. In other countries, like Denmark, France, and Germany, the practice developed from the need to celebrate a special event or occasion. For instance, in Germany, if you walk into a baroness’s bedroom, you’ll see a stuffed walrus on the wall – this is because it is the breeding season for the walrus, and so the lady of the house wanted to express her joy at the approaching birth of her first grandchild. In France, the tradition dates back to the 1700s, and was inspired by the mating season of the sturgeon. In Argentina, the tradition began when horses were used to pull carts loaded with hay and stones, which were then set free to smash into each other on the football pitch. This wasn’t just about self-expression, either, as the animals would also fight each other for food and ownership, resulting in frequent injuries and sometimes death. You can still see traces of this practice today, as there are many baroque festivals in Argentina, where people dress up in historical outfits and ride mechanical bulls to celebrate the slaughter of these ancient creatures.
Part Of Ritualistic Play
Whether it’s about self-expression or not, throwing animals on the sports field is still considered a pretty fun way to spend an afternoon or an evening. In some countries, like Argentina and France, the practice has become sort of a hobby for the rich and famous. If you go to an Argentinian baroness’s birthday party, you’ll see many dogs and cats hurled around the field in what is called a gala plenish. In France, it is traditional to roast a chicken and a goat on spits, and have bikers try to steal them by throwing water at the prey. In the United States, it is common for boys to play hockey with dogs, and it is also one of the most popular sports in Finland. The most well-known game, in which people throw cats, is called kauppi, and it is similar to curling. For some reason, people in Finland are pretty passionate about this particular sport.
It Is An All-male Sport
The only female counterpart to throwing animals on the sports field is sheep-throwing. While it doesn’t have the same worldwide appeal as the opossum game, it has found a home in countries like New Zealand, where it is known as miro and in Australia, where it is called maroo.
For the most part, however, the sports associated with women aren’t quite as popular as those associated with men. This is probably because the majority of the sports fans are guys, and they don’t feel as comfortable around females. In addition to that, there isn’t nearly as much research into the health benefits of playing sports for women as there is for men. Many gyms have also stopped allowing women to play sports on certain days, like on birthdays or Saturdays, because they feel that the men don’t want to play with the women around.
What Do The Experts Say?
The medical field is fairly split on whether or not playing sports is beneficial for women. Some doctors and scientists think that it is a great way for women to stay fit and active, while other experts feel that it could be harmful. Many scientists now believe that there isn’t a specific “sports” female body type, and that all women should be capable of playing sports if they choose to.
As for why do they throw animals on the sports arena, one of the most popular theories is that it’s a way to humiliate the opponent. In line with that, opponents of the sport often get to choose the animal that will be thrown at them, and some even choose to accept the challenge. During the 20th century, animals were generally thrown at players wearing red, and this is because it was felt that the bloodshed would give the athletes a burst of energy. Nowadays, though, the practice of throwing animals on the sports field is pretty popular around the world.