Pretty "Grimm"

[gray_marian]

Sinister Nursery Rhyme!

A section on the deadly disease would not be complete without referring to the children's nursery rhyme "Ring around the rosy". Most of us know and love this Nursery Rhyme which has been passed down through the ages. Understanding the origins and history of this Nursery Rhyme, and how this is connected to the deadly illness, will make our early perception of an innocent child's rhyme take on a completely different and sinister meaning. 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 (also known as Black Death) of London in 1665. The symptoms of the disease 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. The term "Ashes Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies! 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 English version of "Ring around the rosy" replaces Ashes with (Atishoo, Atishoo) as violent sneezing was another symptom of the disease.

[j.sabourn]

Thought it was the flea on the rat that carried the disease. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

I am too of the opinion that the rhyme began then. However the Black Death is refering to an earlier plague in the 1400's. the one prior to the great fire of London was a bubonic plauge. Interesting fact is that the Americans claim they wrote the rhyme to celebrate a plauge there. That must be US bull dust as the country is not known to have suffered any such disease.