THE CIRCUS

 If you're as old as me, it's safe to say you've probably been to a circus.  I trust everyone knows what a circus is . . . or was.  These days, it's harder to find a circus.  The traveling circus groups got a lot of bad publicity from the SPCA and their associates.  The modern circus you may see probably has few, if any, animals.  

If you've been to Las Vegas in the last fifty years, you've no doubt seen or visited Circus Circus.  It is a hotel, a casino and a theme park on 'the strip.'  It is the largest permanently located circus in the world.  

Have you heard of Cirque du Soleil?   That's French for Circus of the Sun.  This is a traveling troupe located out of Montreal that entertains people around the world.  Their shows are coordinated performances which bring one to the history of circus. 

Finally, have you been to Piccadilly Circus?  It is located in Westminster, a borough of London, England.  What type of circus is this, you ask.  To explain, I'll have to go to the root of the word circus.  You see, circus is a Latin word meaning circle.  Piccadilly Circus is a traffic circle where six streets meet; one of which is Piccadilly.   It's a large circle surrounded by tourist attractions.  Walking and  driving through it are at your own risk.  Street vendors, street magicians, street performers and ladies of the street all filter in and out of the circle.  All of this with a statue the locals say is the Greek god Eros in the center (but, it's really not Eros). 

To go full circle, now you should be able to see why we call the circus a circus.  Those three round rings are circles.