Curling originated in Scotland in the early XVI century, the actual confirmation of the existence of this sports game is kёrlingovy sports equipment (stone), the surface of which is stamped date of manufacture ( "1511"), found at the bottom of the drained pond in Dunblane. The first historical mention of curling occur in medieval monastic books, dated 1541 year, preserved in the Abbey of Paisley, Scotland.
At about the same time (1565) are two paintings by Pieter Bruegel, which show the Dutch peasants playing ice stock sport - a game that is close to curling, ice the frozen lake. Scotland and the Netherlands in the XVI century had a very strong trade and cultural ties, as evidenced by the wide distribution in continental Europe not only curling, but also golf.
The oldest curling club in the world is the Association of the city of Kilsyth players located in the north of Scotland, founded in 1716 [1]. The first club kёrlingistov opened in 1737 in the province of Fife [2]. In the same city is the oldest man-made created a sports field, designed for the game of curling - artificial dam, fenced pond and a given area measuring 100 by 250 meters.
The word curling was the first time be used as the name of the game in the XVII century, after mentioning in his poem Scottish poet Henry Adamson. Researchers believe that the game got its name not from the complex tendrils-tracks that left a stone on ice, and the Scottish verb # curr, which describes a low growl or roar (in English, the closest equivalent is a purr). The thing is that the granite stone, sliding on the ice, touched zazubrinok ice, making a distinctive sound came. And to this day in some parts of Scotland, the game is more known as "the roaring game of stones."
It is worth noting that the imperfect form of shells and unprepared fields are not allowed ancient kёrleram play, relying on one or the other winning strategy, or turn out sportsmanship - in most cases, the outcome of the game decided success of a team or player.
Interesting information about shells is also found in the annals of the Scottish city Darvell: weavers rest after work, playing curling heavy stone weights are used in the oppression with looms and these goods have a removable handle. It also says that "many wives supported the authority of her husband, pen polishing stone and bringing its shape to perfection."
Around the XVIII century stone form the beginning of a standardized and acquired a modern look: a diameter of 29.2 cm (11.5 inches), height 11.4 cm (4.5 inches), weight 19.96 kg (44 pounds). The cold climate, an abundance of ice and democratic requirements for the game made it very popular in Scotland, and then throughout the world. However, migrants who fled to America from the power of English monarchs, curling and entered the New World, and in Canada was particularly widespread due to objective reasons for the climate. Curling debut in the United States took place in 1768: the game brought the Scottish soldiers stationed at the time in Quebec.
In the first half of the XIX century it has been approved rules of the game of curling, which since then have not changed.