As a young child in Melbourne, one of my favourite things was the Skipping Girl Vinegar Sign, possibly the first animated neon sign in Australia, depicting a little girl skipping rope. At night the metal frame it is outlined in neon, and the rope lights up in four positions in sequence giving the appearance of skipping. It has moved a few times, and last time I was in Melbourne it had been taken down for renovation. Hopefully I will see it when I am next in Melbourne in July.
According to Wikipedia the origin of jumping rope dates back all the way to the Egyptians and aborigines of Australia, although some say it originated in China. The first real evidence of jump rope as an activity is seen in medieval paintings. I love this painting of Sophia Western – I wonder this is the Sophia Western of Tom Jones school days.
In the 1940s and 1950’s jump rope became the game of choice for inner city children because any one could play, it didn’t need much space and it only required a rope. Jumping rope was also recognised as a way to achieve physical fitness for adults and became part of many different exercise training regimens, such as for boxers. My grandfather used to jump rope well into his 60s, as he had done so as a younger man in the 1930s and 40s while boxing.
Below is a photo of a little girl skipping, about 1936, and another of people skipping on a beach in about 1950. Can’t imagine doing that in a bikini today – got to love play suits.
My youngest daughter got a skipping rope as a prize in school a few weeks ago, and so our interest in skipping has been revived. Even my son wanted to get into the action, although he preferred jumping on the trampoline at the same time for extra bounce.
It is certainly a great way to use up their excess energy! Now for a quiet games of cards………
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