They're called "Devil Sticks." They're a juggling toy with some rather remarkable attributes.

Before we delve any further into the nature of Devilstickery, we must ask ourselves, "why 'Devil'? Is there perhaps some Satanic connection to all this apparent playworthiness that we must guard against?" According to Devilsticks.net, "the name "Devilsticks" comes from a very old Greek dialect word "Devil", "Dallo" or "Diaballo" roughly translated to modern English means to "Throw" or "Toss" in or through the air. The name also has another unexpected means, that is to produce magic. The name has nothing to do with the more recent religious term 'devil' that means evil spirit." Oh, glorious exculpation! O, religiously guiltless Devilstickage!

Further, according to this very same source, "We now know that the oldest Devilsticks ever found to this date was discovered inside an Egyptian tomb called 'the unknown prince.' The tomb is #15 of over 150 tombs located in and around the rock cut tombs of Beni Hassan Geographic Location. The tombs are located inside the white limestone cliffs that run parallel to the Nile rivers' eastern bank." So this fun is not only guilt-free, but with very respectable historical precedent.

As you look around the web to purchase your own set of Devil Sticks, like these cool glow-in-the-dark Luna Stix, or potentially even cooler Flower Glowsticks, you might wonder what the difference could be between beginner's and expert's Devil Sticks. The answer, according to this study: friction. And therein lies the secret to our ancient, compelling and apparently never-ending fascination with Devilstickery. The devilishness is all in the way the sticks stick, and yet don't.