Most of us remember at least a few nursery rhymes from childhood.
Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Hickory Dickory Dock and Ring a Ring o' Roses have been repeated by generations of children.
But where did they actually come from?
Some rhymes were passed down orally long before anyone wrote them down. Others were composed by identifiable poets and only later became familiar nursery rhymes.
One of the oldest surviving English collections, Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book, was published in 1744.
Its tiny pages included an early version of Hickory Dickory Dock.
And here's a surprise.
The familiar story that Ring a Ring o' Roses describes the Black Death or the Great Plague of London has no convincing historical evidence behind it.
Researchers have found that the plague interpretation became popular centuries after the supposed events.
Similarly, the words of Rock-a-bye Baby were known long before the familiar tune was published in 1886.
The history of nursery rhymes is full of these unexpected distinctions.
A Few Questions Worth Discussing
- Which nursery rhyme do you remember most clearly from childhood?
- Did your parents, grandparents or teachers use different words from the versions printed in books?
- Were you taught that Ring a Ring o' Roses was about the plague? Does the historical evidence change your view?
- Do you think the strange or sometimes disturbing events in nursery rhymes make them more memorable?
- Which nursery-rhyme origin stories have you heard, and do you know where those explanations came from?
- Do children still pass traditional rhymes to one another, or are older playground traditions disappearing?
- If you live outside Britain, which rhymes or children's songs are familiar in your country?
How Did Nursery Rhymes Begin? - Songs And Poems
It would be particularly interesting to compare regional and international versions.
One family might remember a familiar rhyme with completely different words from another family living only a few miles away.
And visitors from different countries may recognise similar games or songs in their own languages.
Please share your memories, unusual versions and interpretations.
All respectful contributions are welcome.