Spinning diabolos began as a pastime for Chinese nobility, and grew to prominence at street festivals during the Ming Dynasty of the 14th-17th century. At first, diabolos (two disks connected by a rod, manipulated on a string) were made of wood, but now they are often plastic. When the diabolo is spun, it makes a distinctive buzzing or whistling sound that is said to represent the awakening of spring. Today it is a popular street juggling item, sometimes combined with acrobatics– skilled performers can also manipulate multiple diabolos on one string.
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