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Sunday 27 March 2005

Nursery rhymes - and history






Nursery rhymes may seem mundane. But what is interesting to me is how they originate, what they really encapsulate, how they are passed down, their transmutation from warnings, stories or commentary on real (and often gruesome) historical events into children's games, or songs people use to sing their children to sleep - "Ring a ring a roses" and the Black Death being the most famous one. In a very entertaining and well written novel, The Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart, the key to an ancient secret is even hidden in a children's nursery rhyme to ensure it doesn't get forgotten.

So this site (rhymes.org.uk) I've found on the origins of individual nursery rhymes is particularly fascinating, and well worth a browse if you're interested in oral history and folklore.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I would like to share it out with you.
I love nursery rhymes, and sometimes sang it unnoticed.

: )

I grew up with nursery rhymes, so do you.

So, in favor of the classic memories, I provide a place for you to download the nursery rhymes song (in MP3 format).

Yeah, it's free. I put it at no charge.

Enjoy yoursef.

Click the link below:


Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes for your
Baby, Children, Kids, Toddler

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much. The history is indeed fascinating. The nursery rhymes MP3s were just what I was searching for.

Improbulus said...

Thanks for the MP3s link and for the comments.

Anonymous said...

I'm finding a lot of your old posts I apparently hadn't read before. Great stuff.

I didn't realize all those nursery rhymes had such interesting (and saucy or violent) origins. Fascinating reading.

Improbulus said...

Thanks Kirk! Yes I find this sort of stuff fascinating. And parents recite them to their kids not knowing about those origins.

Gene M. said...

thanks you very much you have very informative site. i am looking and searching nursery rhymes for my son, i am thankful i am stumbled to your site. keep posting. have a nice day.