- Human pyramid
A human pyramid is a stunt, performed by circus artists — sometimes even doing other tricks such as
juggling while up there — or less perfectly by amateurs (often for the fun of failing and falling), whereby participants form a pyramid of layers of persons, each standing (or supporting in another way, e.g. kneeling) on two others one level lower, one half a position to the right and the other to the left.Canada
* At
Queen's University inKingston, Ontario the engineering students build a human pyramids to remove a tam from a football goal post.
* At theRoyal Military College of Canada inKingston, Ontario officer cadets performed a human pyramid in 1901.Catalonia
*
Algemesí holds a Human Pyramid Festival annually on September 8 as a component of thee Fiesta de La Virgen de la Salud (Virgin of Good Health). The muixeranga, oracrobats , form the human towers. http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/?event_id=13492&fx=event
* The castellers ofCatalonia form human pyramids up to ten man heights high. In Catalonia, a statue in the Rambles Nova commemorate the castellers, or human pyramid builders. For exemple, inTarragona acrobats form human towers duringSanta Tecla Festival -in September- and also Sant Magi festival held annually in mid-August. http://goeurope.about.com/library/phot/bl_tarragona_6.htmChina
* Human pyramids are often formed to reach for the bun during the Chinese
Bun Festival .India
* During the
Hindu festivalKrishna Janmaashtami , young men form human pyramids to reach pots filled with curd and butter and suspended high above the ground as part of the "Dahi-Handi" ritual.United States
* It is also used in bonding, e.g. as part of a North American college fraternity
hazing ritual, also in a variation called a "spanking pyramid", also suitable as acollective punishment , in which the pledges, often divested, are paddled on the conveniently protruded posterior.Cheerleading
*
Cheerleader s may perform human pyramids with more difficultstunt sequences andgymnastics incorporated into routines. In cheerleading, pyramids are multiple groups of stunts connected aerially by the flyers. This connection may be made by simple linking of hands or having a multi-level pyramid. The flyers already in the air act as primary bases for another flyer or flyers on top of them.Human Pyramids in the Media
* The opening credits of
Eight Is Enough show the family forming a human pyramid.
* Popular post-hardcore bandEnter Shikari are known to request that concert crowds form a human pyramid during the song "Sorry, You're Not a Winner ".couts
Boy Scouts andGirl Scouts may hold competition where the patrol that builds a human pyramid using all the scouts in their patrol the fastest, wins. [ [http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/activity/activity-285.asp Human Pyramid Activity ] ]References
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