Playing Croquet

Croquet is believed to have been first played by 13th-century French peasants whacking wooden balls through hoops made of willow branches. The modern game can be traced back to "crooky," an Irish pastime that originated in the 1830's and was brought to England in 1852. After a sporting goods manufacturer started selling proper equipment, the popularity of croquet grew considerably. By 1870, the game had reached all of the British colonies, becoming one of the primary recreational activities of the British leisure class. Croquet has since spread worldwide, and although it is now played competitively in more than 20 countries, it is the social aspect of the game that many people, including monks in monasteries, find most appealing.