Carousel- the unlikely derivation

As we gathered for lunch at the Berkshire Carousel yesterday,  Jim, one of the instructor/carvers, was asked about the derivation of carousel, and he waxed eloquent on this topic. He apparently has learned much about the every aspect of carousels, from how to build and carve the horses to the history of the carousel as we know it today.

Putting together what Jim said yesterday, and verifying spelling and facts on Wikipedia, I pass on to you what I have learned.

That soft mellow word carousel that we have come to love because we have often gone up and down and around on one derives from the Italian, a mellifluous language that can make even bad things seem appetizing. Carousel comes from the word garosello which means little battle. Knights and warriors whether Arabian, Italian, French or Spanish had to train to be accurate with their spears. A training device was invented, a huge circle with rings dangling from it, suspended somehow, was turned by slaves or work animals. The warrior on horseback would attempt to thrust his spear through the ring, as if it were the heart of the foe.

Eventually, the term carousel became linked with the musical ride at state celebrations  and weddings where knights and guards paraded their horses in formation in demonstrations of horsemanship. The Place du Carrousel in Paris was named after a choreographed horse event including colorful floats took place there in the 1600s. (  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel )

From about the mid- seventeenth century on the carousel became identified with the ride we love so much. It is a ride that makes us all knights, all jockeys, all guards parading in formation. Childhood dreams of riding out are accomplished. The fear of not returning is abandoned. We leave from one spot, and return. But it is not the same. We have won a victory over fear. We have gone out, conquered and returned. We have experienced the leisure of riding carefree, with a slight breeze cooling us, cheerful music surrounding us, the applause of our adoring public as we go round, and alight, a little wobbly, but safe with those who encourage and care about us.

We have been trained to win our battles with uncertainty through the carousel.