The manipulation of devil sticks (also devil-sticks, devilsticks, flower sticks, gravity sticks, or juggling sticks) is a form of gyroscopic juggling or equilibristics, consisting of manipulating one stick ("baton") between two other sticks held one in each hand. The baton is lifted, struck, or stroked alternately by the two control sticks ('handsticks' or 'sidesticks'), stabilising the baton through gyroscopic motion.
Devil sticks are believed to have originated in China in the distant past, in the form of simple wooden juggling sticks. They are considered to be one of the circus arts, and is sometimes called devil-sticking, twirling, sticking, or stick juggling.
Read more about Devil Sticks: Variants
Famous quotes containing the words devil and/or sticks:
“The devil take one party and his dam the other!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Pancakes and fritters,
Say the bells of St. Peter’s.
Two sticks and an apple,
Say the bells of Whitechapel.
Kettles and pans,
Say the bells of St. Ann’s.”
—Unknown. The Bells of London (l. 7–12)