June 2nd 1907

French Renaissance bowls game (XIV century)

 The rules of these games were not precisely known. In the 19th Century, the game of boules became incredibly popular and written records bear witness to this. In the second half of this Century , the regional games started to become more organized. This is how the national game took shape in the region of Lyon, while the south of France preferred a more relaxed style adapted to a less rigorous structure. At the end of the 19th Century and first part of the 20th, the specific rules were decided upon and became more definite. Federations were formed and competitions were organized.

The Petanque (pieds tanqués)

was born in 1907 in LA CIOTAT (FRANCE)

Petanque as we know it today was born in 1907 in LA CIOTAT , near MARSEILLE

 

 

Every afternoon, boule players met together under the plane-trees of the "Beraud Club". They played the "Jeu Provençal" with their studded boules. Amongst the bystanders who were watching the game seated on chairs, some were unfortunately disturbing it by stopping boules and then causing an argument.

Spheroid devices were built by men in stone, bronze and wood from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages

Then wood became the traditional material up to the second part of the 19th Century. The three following games: skittles, mall and bowls were all made by turners. But wood was not strong enough and bowls were badly damaged when used on rough grounds.

 

 

This is how studded bowls appeared Bowls were generaly made of boxwood and were artistically shaped. Bronze and brass initials, numbers or arabesques were made to decorate or identify them. A skilled worker could not make more than 4 or 5 sets of 2 bowls in a day. According to the area, these designs were "squared" (Lyon), "curved" (Grenoble) or "flaked" (Aiguines).

 

 

 

They had played with "les pieds tanqués" which means "feet tied together" in the throwing circle.It was only in 1907 that pétanque as we know it was born. Its name comes from the provençal "pèd tanco", which means "feet together'. It is played on a shorter terrain and players throw their boule from a rough circle scratched in the dirt, taking no run-up at all.
 

Petanque game

 

Petanque 1908

Petanque 1938

Petanque 1968

Master Petanque 2005

 

The first World Championships were organized in 1959. The most recent championships were held in Faro, Portugal (2000), Monaco (2001), Grenoble (2002), Geneva (2003), Grenoble (2004), Brussels (2005), and Grenoble will host 2006. Fifty-three countries participated in 2004 and the number is growing every year.

 

Final Petanque World Championship 2006

 

 

 

 

FANNY

 

(Funny tradition)

 

13 to  0

 

 

Don't be fooled! Kissing Fanny is no reward (although that might depend on the Fanny...!). Kissing Fanny is a punishment for losing a game without scoring a single point.(13 to 0)

 

It would appear that this tradition started in France's Savoy region, far from the sunny South! The first Fanny was a waitress at the café de Grand-Lemps, just after World War I. As legend would have it, she was so kindhearte that she would allow customers who had lost a game of boules without scoring a single point to kiss her... on the cheek.

 

This went on until one day the village mayor lost a game and came to collect his "prize". No one knows whether Fanny had a grudge against hime and wanted to humiliate him, but we do know that she stepped up onto a chair, lifted her skirt and offered him... her Fanny! The mayor was up to the challenge though, and less than a second later, two loud kisses resounded through the café. This was the beginning of a longstanding tradition.

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The problem with this charming ritual is that players don't always have a Fanny to hand. That is, a Fanny who is willing to bare her backside in public. This is why, everywhere boules is played, a fake fanny is proudly displayed. The unhappy losers are obliged to kiss, in public, the generous cheeks of a Fanny whether in a painting, or made of pottery or as a sculpture. Thus, the consolation prize has become the ultimate humiliation for boules players everywhere.

Who wants to be Fanny girl?

 

 

 

Glossary of special terms

 

Like any sport, petanque has its own special vocabulary. The following are a list of common phrases with explanations.
To have the point To have one or more boules placed closer to the jack than those of the opponent(s).
Pointing To throw one's boule with the intent of stopping near the jack (also know as placing).
Shooting To throw one's boule at one of the opponent's boules to knock it out of play. This is often done when the opponent has pointed his/her boule very close to the jack.
Lob To throw one's boule in a high arc so that when it lands it only rolls minimally
A carreau A special feat in which the shooter knocks the opponent's boule out while leaving his boule at or very near the point of impact (pronounced car-o).
To fanny To beat one's opponents 13 to O
To do the bec Intending to stop the boule near the jack by targeting another boule and hitting it.
Game on the Ground Meaning one team is lying in a match-winning position while an end is still in progress and will win unless their opponents change the situation.

 

How to choose bowls ?

 

Jeu TF1


 

© La Boule du Desert 2007