{"id":2611,"date":"2026-06-11T06:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T05:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.histoiredebal.com\/?p=2611"},"modified":"2026-06-08T12:12:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:12:03","slug":"cotillion-and-balloon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.histoiredebal.com\/en\/2026\/06\/11\/cotillion-and-balloon\/","title":{"rendered":"Football-inspired cotillion with a balloon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today marks the start of the 2026 World Cup, where the balloon is king. What better opportunity to publish this charming soccer cotillion<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th, hundreds of cotillion figures were invented. They featured some very specific props: flags, large heads, snowballs<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Cotillion
\u201cAn amusing party game: A soccer variation for the drawing room,\u201d in F\u00e9mina, January 15, 1911, p. 35<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A cotillion with a side of balloon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This illustration was published in 1911, accompanied by this short article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

\u201cUne amusante figure de cotillon: Variation de football pour les salons\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nos lectrices savent que nous avons organis\u00e9 un concours de figures de cotillon, qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 clos depuis le 5 janvier et dont nous donnerons le compte rendu dans notre num\u00e9ro du 13 f\u00e9vrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

En attendant, il nous a paru int\u00e9ressant de publier cette jolie composition qui reproduit une amusante \u201d figure \u201d qui fait actuellement fureur en Angleterre ; elle a le double avantage de ne pas co\u00fbter cher comme accessoire et d\u2019offrir des p\u00e9rip\u00e9ties mouvement\u00e9es. Les dames prennent un de ces petits ballons rouges gonfl\u00e9s de gaz que l\u2019on vend aux enfants, le ballon est attach\u00e9 \u00e0 un fil. La cotillonneuse accordera un tour de valse au cavalier qui aura \u00e9t\u00e9 assez heureux pour crever d\u2019un seul coup de talon le petit ballon rouge. Inutile de dire qu\u2019elle y met plus ou moins de complaisance. Mais quelle bousculade et quels rires au milieu des d\u00e9tonation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

F\u00e9mina, 15 janvier 1911, p.35<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analysis<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u201cAn amusing cotillion figure: A football variation for the drawing room\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our readers know that we organized a cotillion figure contest, which closed on January 5 and which we will report on in our February 13 issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, we thought it would be interesting to publish this lovely composition, which depicts an amusing \u201cfigure\u201d currently all the rage in England; it has the dual advantage of being inexpensive to set up and offering plenty of excitement. The ladies take one of those little red gas-filled balloons sold to children; the balloon is attached to a string. The cotillion dancer will grant a waltz to the gentleman who is lucky enough to pop the little red balloon with a single tap of his heel. Needless to say, she puts more or less effort into it. But what a scramble and what laughter amid the popping sounds!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I’ll begin by telling you how disappointed I was: the contest was announced,but the results were never published. By lack of contestants maybe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To come back to the cotillion, the setup is simple. Each woman receives a balloon, tied to a string. Yes, I thought too that the balloons were invented later, but they actually were invented by Michael Faraday in 1824<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, each woman has her “gas-filled” balloon – I assume helium. So it must be quite a challenge for the men to pop the balloon. The drawing shows only one balloon up in the air, so maybe they are just blown by mouth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men who manage to pop a balloon will be rewarded with a waltz with its owner. It\u2019s a game of skill\u2014though somewhat rigged, since the ladies choose whether or not to make the task easier for certain dancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a charming dance, as long as you don\u2019t mind the sound of balloons popping!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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