This tradition is inspired by the medieval “jousts and tournaments”. These took place both at court and in the fiefdoms when there were disagreements between knights and they settled them by means of a duel. But they also took place for festive reasons (e.g. coronations, marriages). Thus, these “tournaments” were held for recreational purposes. There was a great variety of games, among them: the fire of the hoop. This game had similarities to the dynamics of the ribbon races on horseback. 

This game consisted of inserting the tip of a lance into one of the metal hoops, which hung tied by a knotted ribbon. The competing knights chose a lady to whom they offered their triumphs. The lady accepted the knight as her “champion” and tied a kerchief in the knight’s colours around her arm.