Halloween Nursery Rhymes

The innocence of nursery rhymes that are either sung to children or by children, are steeped in an eerie and creepy past. For those who met their fates in the historical origins of the rhymes, they were probably remembered during the All Hallows Eve festivities.

The reference to 'farmer's wife' in the 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 were Protestant and who were convicted of plotting against the Queen - she had them dismembered and blinded which is the “Three blind mice”

Ring a Ring-O’-Roses

Ring a Ring-O'-Roses
Ring a ring o' roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down

History

This rhyme is actually about the Bubonic Plague or Black Death, which wiped out hundred of people during its time around 1665

The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin which is referred to in the rhyme as Ring around the rosy.

Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs, these were called posies and were then carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells.

The death rate was over 60% and the plague was only halted by the Great Fire of London in 1666 which killed the rats which carried the disease which was transmitting via water sources.

The A-tishoo, A-tishoo refers to the sneezing which accompanied the final fatal moments of the victims when they would all fall down and die!

Oranges and Lemons Rhyme

Orange & lemons" say the Bells of St. Clement's
"You owe me five farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's
"When will you pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey
"When I grow rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch
"When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney
"I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow
"Here comes a Candle to light you to Bed
Here comes a Chopper to Chop off your Head
Chip chop chip chop - the Last Man's Dead."


History

The origin of the words to "Oranges and lemons" - strange & sinister!
The exact date of origin is unknown but there was a Square Dance called 'Oranges and Lemons' dating back to 1665, unfortunately there are no known record of the lyrics which accompanied the dance but is likely that the words were similar to that of the nursery rhyme.

The words to "Oranges and lemons" have been much loved by numerous generations of children.

The names of the bells relate to some of the many churches of London and the tune that accompanies the lyrics is the sound of the ringing of the individual church bells.

The words of the nursery rhyme are chanted by children as they play the game of 'Oranges and lemons' the end of which has in a child being caught between the joined arms of two others, which recreates the act of chopping off their head!

This rhyme dates to some time before 1783 when the infamous public execution gallows were moved from Tyburn-gate (Marble Arch) to Newgate, a notorious prison for both criminals and debtors hence "When will you pay me"?". This move was necessary to reduce problems caused by the crowds, often exceeding 100,000, gathered along the execution procession route.

The 'Bells of Old Bailey', or more accurately the tenor bell of St Sepulchre, had been utilised prior to 1783 to time the executions but after the gallows had been moved, Newgate prison (now the site of the Old Bailey) obtained its own bell.

As the words to the poem "Oranges and lemons" indicate the unfortunate victim would await execution on 'Death Row' and would be informed by the Bellman of St. Sepulchre by candle light 'here comes the candle to light you to bed', at midnight outside their cell, the Sunday night prior to their imminent fate, by the ringing of the 'Execution Bell'.