What does the nursery rhyme 'Ring - Around - the - Rosie' actually refer to?
Correct answer: Black Death
Gerri
VelourBanjoPlayer141, I would sing this with my friends, never knowing it was about the black plaque, how sad
rosejt
Correct me if I’m wrong, but (in UK anyway) we say ‘atishoo atishoo, we all fall done’. Altho the ashes similarity could be related to the fact that they used to bury the bodies in lime to ‘burn’ the infection. Well done on the info though.
Burningunkle
Theme song for 2020
Player #4831077
Player #8583667, we learnt it another way, in India, ringa ringa roses pocketful of posies husha busha we all fall down.
christine
they made nursery rhymes out of bad situations to teach children about bad things in life. that is how they taught their kids in those days. today we try to keep our kids from not knowing how bad things can be in life. protect them. I think this is done to much. we need to tell our kids about bad situations before they happen. like death of loved one or pet...
Kat
The question should read "allegedly refer to" instead of "actually," since the explanation cites that it is "apocryphal" and not necessarily true.
Big Jon
It's not ashes ashes, it's atissue atissue. As in sneezing.
Player #17843525
Folklore scholars regard this explanation as baseless for several reasons:
The plague explanation did not appear until the mid-twentieth century.[20]
The symptoms described do not fit especially well with the Great Plague.[25][28]
The great variety of forms makes it unlikely that the modern form is the most ancient one, and the words on which the interpretation are based are not found in many of the earliest records of the rhyme (see above).[26][29]
European and 19th-century versions of the rhyme suggest that this "fall" was not a literal falling down, but a curtsy or other form of bending movement that was common in other dramatic singing games.[30]
SOS
rosejt, In Australia we say atishoo too, probably because of our British heritage😄
Yax
This is false. The the poem itself did not appear until 1855, and the Black Plague explanation did not come until after WWII. The symptoms do not match those of the disease, and in the 19th century, “fall down” implied bowing or curtsying.
Rufus
Player #4831077, this is how we, in South Africa 🇿🇦 also sing it.
Met Me
Gerri, Not the plaque! The plague!!!
Patty
Player #125843019, we sang that happily as children. I discovered only recently the facts around it😔very sad.
Cat Mom
Sure is a lot of discussion over a line in a nursery rhyme
Cat Mom
Mike , what does nipping out mean?
Cat Mom
Sim, so, ashes works in the 2nd verse but you're all saying that it doesn't belong in the 1st verse?
Cat Mom
Big Jon, IT IS ASHES
Cat Mom
Player #17843525, What are the numbers that you have in italics for? Some reference not listed or am I missing something?
Cat Mom
rosejt, ashes here in Tennessee
msbw
Paul, messed up my whole mind
eggie
rosejt, 'atishoo' originated from the French "as-tu sué?" which translates as 'have you wished/made a wish?' ,because sneezing was considered lucky in France, so you made a wish 🤞 ‼️
Player #114308965
rosejt, you are correct rosejt we say atishoo in the UK
Player #125843019
rosejt, you are absolutely correct
Player #120374466
Kat, In other words, if we not sure on what the lyrics of a song or words of a poem mean. Best not repeat it. Especially for children
ShineyHiney
Big Jon, depends where live
Jenny
rosejt, Same in New Zealand.
TJ
Saying “ bless you “ actually derived from the Black Plague as sneezing was unfortunately considered to be a symptom of having the plague.
KAYLA-UK
Same with many historian rhymes, there’s a darker sadden meaning, hence reasons if I ever have children, in another life wouldn’t introduce just any song, rhymes or stories until done proper research to inform them of the true meaning of history.
Sarah
Player #4831077, what does husha busha mean? In
like this because they knew it was about the black death and it seems these days they try to sensor anything with actual meaning because someone could get offended. It's rediculous, maybe they should get a tissue and fall down??
Coda
I was under the impression it referred to the Maypole dance.
joey
Player #7106191, most of the Grimm brother's nursery rhymes are very grim
Alison
rosejt, yes definitely grew up singing atishoo atishoo we all fall down
Gravly87
this has been disproven many times over
flr
it's actually "a tishoo" not ashes.
arohanui
Big Jon, atishoo, atishoo.
Sim
Jenny, in the UK it's: Ring a ring a roses, a pocket full of posies, atishoo! atishoo! We all fall down.
Ashes in the water, ashes in the sea, we all fall down with a one, two, three!
Natalie
I knew this one!
GB
Gerri, black plaque sounds like a very nasty dental condition lol
GB
yes...the line 'we all fall down' seemed so innocent and fun until I got older and learnt what it means
Jenny
I've never heard anyone singing "ashes, ashes". In Australia we've always sung "a-tishoo, a-tishoo", like sneezing!