The Cornhole Game Came From Humble Beginnings

By Author: Dave Roth
Total Articles: 125
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Not everyone knows what the cornhole game is, or at least they do not know it by that name. Some people call it the bean bag game, or the bean bag toss. Usually, it depends on what area of the country a person comes from as to what the game is called, but no matter what the name, the game can be quite enjoyable. How the cornhole game came about, though, is something that most people do not know, and there are also arguments between people who say that they do know. The true origins of the cornhole game can probably never be completely proven, but there are two main theories. In addition to those, however, there are some smaller theories that most people who play the cornhole game do not give any credit to or take very seriously. One of these theories is that the cornhole game is an overseas game which was started in Europe. Most of these theories say that it was created in Germany, but there is really nothing to back this up. German folklore and tradition does not make mention of the cornhole game.

The two most credible theories indicate that the cornhole game � or the bean bag toss � started in Either Chicago, ...
... Illinois, or Cleveland, Ohio. The people in Cleveland claim ownership of the game under the cornhole name, while the people in Chicago generally claim ownership of it under the bean bag designation. It is unlikely that the game spontaneously came about in both places at the same time, but this is not impossible. The story goes that some people spent their free time tossing washers into a can in order to help alleviate their boredom during slow working periods. From this, the cornhole game or bean bag game evolved. People who live in Chicago claim it happened there, and people who live in Cleveland claim it happened there. The game is basically the same, however, no matter where it got its start and what it is called. For the bean bag game, the board is a bit smaller. It is two feet by three feet, as opposed to the two foot by four foot board that is used in the cornhole game.

This appears to be the only significant difference, and many people who play a game that they call cornhole actually use the smaller boards as well if they go to tailgating parties, birthday parties, or other events where the smaller board is much easier to maneuver. The game is then played with the board � either wooden or plastic � and the bags, which were originally stuffed with corn or beans. Some of them still are, but most of them are filled with plastic pellets in commercially made sets, because the plastic does not degrade over time like corn or beans can. The bags are thrown into the hole in the board to score valuable points, and points are also given to people who get the bag to stay on the board, even if it does not fall into the hole. It is a game that can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.