Round and Round

I was sent the following by my sister-inlaw, Jan. So, I did some research and came up with what follows this graphic that Jan sent.




A friendship ball is a hollow sphere of plain or striated glass hung in cottage windows in 20th century North America as an act of friendship. Friendship balls started in central Europe as holiday decoration, and are commonly referred to as Kugels.

European Art glass balls for holiday decoration are still commonly referred to in Austria and Germany as Kugels. Kugels range in shape and styles, according to the artist that made them and the season they are displayed. It is quite common to display egg shaped kugels at Easter and Heart shapes at Valentines day. Quality kugels are hand blown or mouth blown art glass. Most are blown into an apple wood mold to retain shape and consistency. Some artists free blow their kugel designs, thus ending up in an irregular shape. Air bubbles are common, and expected by the collector.

In America these glass balls are marketed in many ways. Witch ball, spirit balls, spirit catchers, friendship balls, gazing ball, wishing balls, and so on. Each having a little bit of home grown folklore attached to make the item unique or extra special.



The Friendship Ball

A ball
is a circle, No
beginning, no end.
It keeps us together Like
our Circle of Friends But the
treasure inside for you to see
is the treasure of friendship
You've granted to me.
Today I pass the
friendship ball
to you.



BUT THE TREASURE INSIDE
FOR YOU TO SEE
IS THE TREASURE OF FRIENDSHIP
YOU'VE GRANTED TO ME

WHEN YOU ARE SAD
I WILL DRY YOUR TEARS
WHEN YOU ARE SCARED
I WILL COMFORT YOUR FEARS

WHEN YOU ARE WORRIED
I WILL GIVE YOU HOPE
WHEN YOU ARE CONFUSED
I WILL HELP YOU COPE
WHEN YOU ARE LOST
AND CAN'T SEE THE LIGHT
I SHALL BE YOUR BEACON
SHINE EVER SO BRIGHT

THIS IS MY OATH
I PLEDGE TO THE END
WHY YOU MAY ASK
BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FRIEND



IT'S NOT JUST A BALL YOU PLAY WITH
NOR A BALL YOU GO TO TO DANCE
IT'S A BALL YOU GIVE TO ONE ANOTHER
EVERYTIME YOU GET THE CHANCE

A BALL THAT'S AROUND FOREVER
AND EVER AND EVER AGAIN
WHETHER IT'S JUST A FRIENDSHIP
OR YOUR OWN BLOOD KIN

IT'S A BALL THAT KNOWS LOVE IMMEDIATELY
WHEN IT IS CAUGHT BY FRIENDLY HANDS
A BALL THAT'S THOUGHT OF DEARLY
BY A LOVE THAT UNDERSTANDS

YOU CAN DROP THIS BALL SOMETIMES
WHEN YOU ARE NOT FEELING RIGHT
BUT YOU WILL LOOK FOR IT AND FIND IT
AND HOLD ON WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT

NOW THIS STORY OF THE LOVE BALL
OR THE FRIENDSHIP BALL AS IT'S CALLED
IS TO FOLLOW THIS BRIEF PRELUDE
FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND ALL

WHEN THE BALL REACHES YOUR HEART
IT WILL SOMETIMES MAKE YOU CRY
I KNOW SOME LOVES ONES THAT DID JUST THAT
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, SO DID I



As reminders, I gathered a few balls below for all of us.






Round and Round
As Performed By: Perry Como (1956)
Words & Music by: Lou Stallman & Joe Shapiro

Find a wheel and it goes round, round, round
As it skims along with a happy sound
As it goes along the ground, ground, ground
Till it leads you to the one you love

Then your love will hold you round, round, round
In your heart's a song with a brand new song
And your head goes spinning round, round, round
Cause you've found what you've been dreamin' of

In the night you see the oval moon
Going round and round in tune
And the ball of sun in the day
Makes a girl and boy wanna say

Find a ring and put it round, round, round
And with ties so strong that two hearts are bound
Put it on the one you've found, found, found
For you know that this is really love

Find a wheel and it goes round, round, round
As it skims along with a happy sound
As it goes along the ground, ground, ground
Till it leads you to the one you love

Then your love, you'll hold her round, round, round
In your heart's a song with a brand new song
And your head goes spinning round, round, round
Cause you've found what you've been dreamin' of

In the night you see the oval moon
Going round and round in tune
And the ball of sun in the day
Makes a girl and boy wanna say

Find a ring and put it round, round, round
And with ties so strong your two hearts are bound
Put it on the one you've found, found, found
For you know that this is really love

Find a ring, put it on
For you know that this is really love
Really love
Really love