Flea circus

A flea circus is a fairground attraction, small carriages or move the carousel at the fleas, shoot balls into goals and perform similar feats. Due to the small size of the animals and the associated stage an entire flea circus may be housed in a suitcase. Showman with flea circus formerly belonged to the standard program of fairs and festivals. Today there are very few, including flea circus Birk, which has existed since the mid 19th century and since 1948 occurs at the Munich Oktoberfest, and Marco Assmann 's Flea Circus. Marco Assmann is with his flea circus regular guest on TV shows and documentaries and has the most comprehensive collection of literature, props and memorabilia on the topic. Peter Mathes worked for the film The Death of the Flea Circus Director (1973 ) by Thomas Koerfer.

Since fleas can not be trained, they must be divided by observation in so-called knight and bishop, who then perform various tricks. The runners are tied with a fine silver thread on eg a coach. Springer are good scorers, as they sent set to a small ball, spin dry the jump attempt by itself.

Suitable for a flea circus are dog and cat fleas as well as the females of people or hedgehog fleas - the males are too small.

" As is known, there are people who by dressing fleas ( tensing the same to small carts, etc.) to gain their livelihood. By imprison the animals longer time in shallow tins, where they each time derb come to Spring tests on the head, they get used to them from this bad habit, and through action on one of their arms, they reward each one according to the idea of ​​always having so much blood as he likes to drink. "

The phrase " subdue a flea circus " means " overseeing a bevy lively children " or its equivalent.