Nursery Rhymes & their History connection

Subject: Nursery Rhymes & their History connection Sat 26 May 2007 - 9:12

Ring around the Rosy (Nursery Rhyme)

Origins of "Ring around the rosy" in English History
Connections to the Bubonic Plague (Black Death)

The words to the Ring around the rosy children's ring game have their origin in English history . The historical period dates back to the Great Plague of London in 1665 (bubonic plague) or even before when the first outbreak of the Plague hit England in the 1300's. The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs ( or posies) which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells

http://www.rhymes.org.uk/ring_around_the_rosy.htm

3-star-status Member Posts: 3409 Joined: 2006-11-09

I had read about that before .. but not that web site .. I must take a look later lol

The other week our Grandson had been learning about the Black Death at School. A few weeks later he came out in a rash ... and said to his Mum "I have got bubonic plague" ... she said "come back hen you have more spots" .. very caring our daughter!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Smith, Nuttall, Ingham,McDermott and more

so near and yet so far

Subject: Jack Sprat Nursery Rhyme Sat 2 Jun 2007 - 10:22

Jack Sprat Rhyme

Nursery Rhyme & History

Origin to words of Jack Sprat can be found in British History!

The Jack Sprat alluded to in this English poem is reputed to be King Charles I (1625-1649) and Henrietta Maria, his Queen (1609-1669). Apparently, when King Charles (Jack Sprat) declared war on Spain, parliament refused to finance him (leaving him lean!) So his wife imposed an illegal war tax (to get some fat!) after the angered King (Jack Sprat) dissolved Parliament

Taken from http://www.rhymes.org.uk

Subject: Re: Nursery Rhymes & their History connection Fri 18 Jan 2008 - 19:33

Just moved this from History to Literature Board, as part of our current History Board "sort out".

then got sidetracked :ck-hrrmm: trying to remember the words of Jack Sprat!! haa haa

Is this it..........

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean,
and so between them both,
you'll see they licked the platter clean

Well heck!! I never knew before that this was about Charles I. Laughing

The other???

Ring o ring of roses,
a Pocket full of poses,
At-ish-oo,
At-ish-oo,
We all fall down!!

Yes, remember playing that as a child, all in a circle holding hands -
everyone falls down on the ground at the end Very Happy

Carole