10 Things You Didn't Know About The Circus.

Everybody knows about the Circus but do you know these interesting facts?

1. Royal Hanneford Circus is known as the oldest circus, tracing back to around 1690.

Via sahibshrine.org

Originally founded by a foot juggler called Edwin Hanneford, a London street performer.

2. Although origins can date back to Ancient Rome

Via devon.gov.uk

3. Recognise this tune? Well, it's over 100 years old.

Composed by Czech conductor Julius Fučík in 1904. Even today, Entrance of the Gladiators is the most recognisable circus tune.

4. There is actually a World Circus Day.

Via circusfederation.org

Established in 2009, World Circus Day is celebrated around the third Saturday each April.

5. Eating peanuts backstage is considered bad luck.

Via funtrivia.com

You also wouldn't want to get caught whistling either, as that is just as bad!

6. Clowns are thought to derive from Medieval Fools and Jesters.

Via silentclown.com

Although there have been evidence of clown-like characters for hundreds of year.

7. There is only one full-time sideshow left in the world.

Via coneyisland.com

Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore is the only permanent sideshow left.

8. You are less likely get into the School of Clowning than Harvard.

9. In circus lingo, a strolling food vendor who sells popcorn and toys is called a butcher.

Via newvictorytheater.blogspot.co.uk

If the circus wasn't creepy enough.

10. The word ‘juggling’ comes from the word ‘jogelen’ meaning "to entertain by performing tricks".

kinooze.com

If you were interested by that, Cirque du Soleil will be heading to London's Royal Albert Hall in 2014

Cirque du Soleil's is touring with their popular Quidam show, which first appeared in Montreal in 1996.