what is the history of cornhole?

cornhole, also known as beanbag toss, is a centuries-old game that has its origins in several countries including Germany, Italy, and Poland. It was played near the Austrian-Yugoslavian border in the 18th century, and was brought to the United States during the 19th century by German settlers. Today, it is a popular recreational game that is played throughout North America and many other parts of the world.

The earliest version of Cornhole dates back to 709 AD with the sport being popularized in Germany as Kutschbewerfung which translates to "horse popping". The game rules were slightly different than what we know today – instead of tossing beanbags at a wooden platform, two teams would try to kick a leather ball through hoops suspended from wooden posts. It was so popular during this era that it even became a recognized sport in some areas.

In Italy, Cornhole was traditionally known as Bocce Ball and had similar elements to Kutschbewerfung – players took turns trying to push a wooden ball closest to another preset target ball. The rules of Bocce Ball eventually evolved together with those for Kutschbewerfung into what eventually became Cornhole.

When German immigrants moved to North America in the 19th century they brought both versions of this game along with them. Over time it evolved into what we now know as "cornhole" and spread throughout the region. It then became even further popularized by soldiers returning home from World War II who picked up on the game while stationed overseas where it had spread quickly after being introduced by American servicemen during early stages of conflict.