The carousel, also known as a merry-go-round, is found in almost every theme park and amusement park. It has a rich history that dates back several centuries, but you might be surprised to learn that prior to being used for entertainment it was used for training for battle! The fact that the most common carousel uses horses is no accident as the carousel’s origins can be traced to medieval jousting traditions in Europe and the Middle East. During this time riders practiced spearing rings while galloping in circles—a game called “carosella,” meaning “little war” in Italian. The term “grab the brass ring”, where riders could grab a ring from a dispenser for a prize (highly unsafe to think about doing today), was based on this practice.