When ever I think of my childhood, I remember the rhymes that I used to sing. Those rhymes make me feel nice even today. I always felt that it was written by different people for their kids as the rhymes are normally about farm animals, food & young kids.
Years later did I come to know that all these rhymes have some historic significance. And their is history sometimes sweet and yet sometimes brutal. These are songs which tell us about the olden days, their culture, their problems & also their wars.
Here below is a little about the origin of the rhymes that I have loved through the years:
London Bridge is falling down …
The ‘London Bridge is falling down’ Nursery Rhyme is based on the one of the most famous landmarks in London. It’s history can be traced to the Roman occupation of England in the first century. The first London Bridge was made of wood and clay and was fortified or re-built with the various materials mentioned in the children’s nursery rhyme. Many disasters struck the bridges - Viking invaders destroyed the bridge in the 1000’s which led to a fortified design, complete with a drawbridge. Building materials changed due to the many fires that broke out on the bridge.
One a penny, two a penny hot cross buns …
Hot cross buns are a small, spicy fruit cake decorated with a white cross. Generally Hot Cross Buns are served with a butter spread. Hot cross buns were hawked by streetsellers to the cry of “Hot cross buns!” around the the nineteenth century. This particular way of selling wares is demonstrated in the movie “Oliver!” based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Hot Cross Buns are generally sold at Easter to celebrate the religious significance of the resurrection of Christ following his death on the cross in the Easter Christian festival.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall …
Humpty Dumpty was in fact a large cannon! It was used during the English Civil War ( 1642 - 1649) in the Siege of Colchester (13 Jun 1648 - 27 Aug 1648). Colchester was strongly fortified by the Royalists and was laid to siege by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads). In 1648 the town of Colchester was a walled town with a castle and several churches and was protected by the city wall. Standing immediately adjacent the city wall, was St Mary’s Church. A huge cannon, colloquially called Humpty Dumpty, was strategically placed on the wall next to St Mary’s Church. A shot from a Parliamentary cannon succeeded in damaging the wall beneath Humpty Dumpty which caused the cannon to tumble to the ground. The Royalists, or Cavaliers, ‘all the King’s men’ attempted to raise Humpty Dumpty on to another part of the wall. However, because the cannon , or Humpty Dumpty, was so heavy ‘ All the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again!’
Little Miss Muffet …
Little Miss Muffet was a small girl whose name was Patience Muffet. Her stepfather, Dr. Muffet (1553-1604) was a famous entomologist who wrote the first scientific catalogue of British Insects. Whilst eating her breakfast of curds and whey Little Miss Muffet was frightened by one of his spiders and ran away!
Mary had a little lamb …
No specific historical connection can be traced to the words of Mary had a little lamb but it can be confirmed that the song Mary had a little lamb is American as the words were written by Sarah Hale, of Boston, in 1830. An interesting historical note about this rhyme - the words of Mary had a Little Lamb were the first ever recorded by Thomas Edison, on tin foil, on his phonograph.
Pussycat pussycat where have you been? …
The origins of the “Pussycat pussycat” rhyme dates back to the history of 16th century Tudor England. One of the waiting ladies of Queen Elizabeth Ist had an old cat which roamed throughout Windsor castle. On one particular occasion the cat ran beneath the throne where its tail brushed against the Queen’s foot, startling her. Luckily ‘Good Queen Bess’ had a sense of humour and decreed that the cat could wander about the throne room, on condition it kept it free of mice!
Ring-a-ring o' roses …
In the circle game Ring-a-ring o' roses, links have been made to the Great Plague of London and also of Edinburgh, Scotland (Opie & Opie, 364, Delamar, 38-40). ‘Ring-a-ring o' roses’ are the rings caused on the body because of the disease. The ‘pocket full of posies’ are the medicinal herbs that people used to carry. The lines “all fall down” is referring to the death of the people.
Rain rain go away …
The origin of the lyrics to “Rain rain go away” are said to date back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), one of the English Tudor monarchs. During this period of English history there was constant rivalry between Spain and England culminating in the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Spanish Armada consisted of many Spanish galleons and was sent to invade England. The Armada was led by Duke of Medina Sedonia and the the fleet numbered over 130 ships. The English fleet, under Admiral Lord Howard, totalled 34 small Navy vessels and 163 armed merchant ships. But the great Spanish Armada was defeated. Only 65 Spanish galleons and just 10,000 men returned to Spain. The attempt failed, not only because of the swift nature of the smaller English ships but also by the stormy weather which scattered the Armada fleet. Hence the origin of the “Rain rain go away” Nursery rhyme!
Rock a bye baby …
The words and lyrics to the “Rock a bye baby” rhyme are reputed to reflect the observations of a young pilgrim boy in America who had seen Native Indian mothers suspend a birch bark cradle from the branches of a tree. Thus enabling the wind to rock the cradle and the child to sleep!
Sing a song of sixpence …
Lovely words to this children’s action nursery rhyme which is often referred to as blackbirds baked in a pie probably because the image that blackbirds baked in a pie would create in a child’s mind . The rye ( a pocketful of rye) was purchased to feed birds. Blackbirds, and other song birds, were actually eaten as a delicacy! However a court jester may well have suggested to the court cook to bake a pie pastry crust and place this over some live blackbirds to surprise and amuse the King! It would not be unreasonable for the blackbirds to look for revenge hence “When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!”
Three blind mice …
The origin of the words to the Three blind mice rhyme are based in English history. The ‘farmer’s wife’ refers to the daughter of King Henry VIII, Queen Mary I. Mary was a staunch Catholic and her violent persecution of Protestants led to the nickname of ‘Bloody Mary’. The reference to ‘farmer’s wife’ in Three blind mice refers to the massive estates which she, and her husband King Philip of Spain, possessed. The ‘three blind mice’ were three noblemen who adhered to the Protestant faith who were convicted of plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in Three blind mice - but she did have them burnt at the stake!
Baa, baa, black sheep, …
It was a complaint against the hardships caused to the poor by the enclosures of land for sheep farming in the days of King Edward VI. Another explanation is that, in the wool trade, the division of the bags is said to refer to the export tax on wool imposed in 1275.
Hickory, dickory, dock. …
This is said to refer to Richard Cromwell, who could not preserve the Republic created by his father or prevent the restoration of the monarchy. There is also the account of Sir Walter Scott telling a little girl a story which included a rhyme very similar to this one.
Added after Chanchal’s comment:
Jack and Jill went up the hill …
The roots of the story, or poem, of Jack and Jill are in France. Jack and Jill referred to are said to be King Louis XVI - Jack -who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette - Jill - (who came tumbling after). The actual beheadings occurred in during the Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties-in with the history and origins.
Wishing you all a very happy Pongal, Sankranti & Lohri.
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