Tuesday 24 March 2009

Humpty Who?

Okay, been reading some more useless information LOL, the origins of nursery rhymes. It seems that the composers were forced to disguise their commentary on current affairs in the form of children’s rhymes or risk swift imprisonment or a nasty death, so these rhymes were written as cleverly coded comments on society.  Many of the well known rhymes refer to British politics of the time or where used to spread gossip about royalty – (mmmmh Ladies watch your tongues LOL) which was punishable by beheading or being burnt at the stake……… NICE!

Mary Mary Quite Contrary…. This Mary refers to the English Queen Mary Tudor – nicknamed Bloody Mary, a catholic who wanted to rid England of Protestants. Mary’s “garden” was apparently an allusion to graveyards full of Protestants who met untimely deaths because of their religious beliefs. The “silver bells and cockle shells” growing in her garden were instruments of torture while the “maids” were the machines that beheaded people in a similar fashion to the guillotine.

Jack and Jill…………clumsy jack is France’s King Louis XVI who was beheaded in 1793 – Jack fell down and broke his crown… His wife Queen Marie Antoinette met the same unfortunate fate….and Jill came tumbling after. This rhyme was made a little more child-friendly by indicating that Jack didn’t die but mended his head with vinegar and brown paper……… now we also have the origins of Zombies!

Humpty Dumpty………Contrary to popular belief, the giant “egg” depicted in illustrations of this rhyme was probably a large cannon used during the English Civil War. It toppled off a tower and could not be repaired. The words “Humpty Dumpty” was also slang for a short, stout person and some academics are convinced that the unfortunate hero is King Richard 111 of England who was hunchbacked. Mmmm guess who had scrambled eggs for breakfast.

and a lot less bloody……. Baa Baa Black Sheep.  A sharp comment on tax implications for citizens in the 13th century. One third of the tax went to the local lord……”one for the master”, another third to the church…….”the dame” and the last cut to the farmer…….”the little boy who lives down the lane.”

What are we teaching our kids LOL!

I had a little bit of fun yesterday and ended up with something to share with you all, was running around like a mad thing collecting all the last bit of green left in our garden LOL!! so here’s a CLUSTER LEAF FRAME FREEBIE for you.

clusterleafframe

You can grab it here:

http://www.4shared.com/file/94648629/13f076eb/gs_clusterleafframe.html

Off to try and get more work done, Caden’s day nanny hasn’t been to work now in a week and she’s down for a nap…… playtime for me.

35 comments:

catlady aka catslave said...

Thank you for passing on the truth about the nursery rhymes we grew up on. Very interesting! Love your wreath - thank you very much.

Kim B said...

BWAHAHAHAHA- Ok, I think I preferred the *blind folded fairytale* option to those rhymes- But yup- I remember reading about this and going HUH?? AGGGH NO! lol, sort of takes the simplicity and the magic out of it in a way- but sure is interesting!!

LOVE this frame sis- it's BEAUTIMOUS! lol
Tell Ben to get GAS! hahahahahaha-
Sending hugs and loves to my little princess!

Anonymous said...

Love the frame Gaye!! Thank you for sharing!!!

Now that I think of it...nursery rhymes are kind of gruesome! LOL

Hope you have a great day!
xoxo

Kristine

Pattycakes said...

This frame is beautiful!! Thank you! :)

Anonymous said...

Love the interesting blog and the fantastic frame. Thank you so very much for both :0)

Anonymous said...

Interesting reading the background to the Nursery Rhymes....I like to think of them as simple sweet little rhymes I learnt as a kid LOL.
Beautiful leaf frame....thankyou

Snowsmoon said...

WOW, girl you are a very talent gal. I am sure that it runs in your families jeans....Thank you so much for your work work and sharing your talent with us gals in scrapland.

Hugs
Dawn aka Snowsmoon's Design

Snowsmoon said...

PS... I have to say girl you are just as talents as your sister when it comes to the gift to gab, and keep you followers coming back to read your love of life and humor twist you add to it. Love you both...be back soon...just love reading both of your blogs...so uplifting and cute.

Dawn

Sharon aka Scrapcat4914 said...

Good morning Gaye!!!!!!!
Just left your sister's blog & your now my next daily stop!!!!
TY so very much for the info on the rhymes!!!!!!!
TY also for this MAGNIFICENT wreath frame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HUGE HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bonnie said...

Who would of thought of the origins of these nursery rhythms!! Ha ha, too funny!! Thanks for sharing!

By Dezign said...

OMW and Baa Baa Black Sheep hasn't changed. Taxes and Petrol prices and then a teeny tiny bit for us. Love, love, love the frame. I see a LO coming with that frame and a paper from Bonnie. Whooohaaaa.

Robbi and Mike said...

Beautiful Cluster leafy frame Gayle - just gorgeous! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous,fantastic, superb, and the giftie is great too. Glad to see you after the weekend. What fun Who Knew? nursery rhymes could be so much fun? LOL

Being Mrs Miles said...

Now thats just morbid! LOL - yes, how these quaint-seeming rhymes slip so easily off our tongues when we don't know the story. I find this with sayings and phrases too. Always an interesting tale behind them. So glad you shared, very interesting indeed!

Your wreath is SO very pretty! You have a wonderful touch, this could go vintage or new!

I hope your (our-haha) Caden had a good LONG nap so you could play.

Sending you warm Canadian hugs,
♥ Barb

VJ's Scrap Room said...

Wow..I will look at nursery rhymes a lot differently from now on.LOL
Gotta see what hey diddle diddle the cat and the fiddle and the cow jumped over the moon means.LOL

LOVE your new cluster frame!!! Soo pretty! Thank you for sharing.:)

Hugs,
Valinda

Peggie said...

This is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

LOL! I hadn't heard the meanings behind any of those rhymes. I had heard about "ring around the roses" being a reference to the plague/black death. The "ring around the roses" referred to the red, fevered cheeks; "pocket full of posies" was the bundle of herbs people carried to try and ward off the illness; "achoo, achoo" - sneezing, obviously; "we all fall down" = dead. What a bummer of a rhyme!

Oh well! Thank you for the gorgeous wreath!

Anonymous said...

Love it!! Love it!! Thank you so very much for this beauty. I can't wait to see the next kit. Watching patiently...ROFL ROFL...not...LOL.
LynO

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this Freebie. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in Creative Busy Hands Scrapbook Freebies Search List, under the Elements Only, Papers Only post on Mar. 24, 2009. Thanks again.

Jazzy said...

Wow what interesting information..but I think Im going to try and forget it and remember the old nursery rhymes as I learned them..LOL The frame is just beautiful thanks for sharing..

Crops said...

Hickory dickory dock....wanna know the meaning??? Nope I can't tell ya, it's too dirty! LOL But I do LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEee that frame! Damn you are GOOD!!! Thanks soooo much!
mwahhhhhhhhhhh

Laramie said...

This is a beautiful cluster thank you.

Lynn said...

Popping in to say HI, great freebie! Thanks!!

Veelana said...

I love the frame - and the Nursery rhyme stuff was Hilarious!

There's an Award waiting for you at my Blog
http://www.veelana.blogspot.com/

Chelly said...

Hi, I came back to visit, and say that what was written was a "tribute" to LiviaY which is a great friend to have, and how she presented me with that wonderful layout, no more fair to return the affection that somehow lol ...
My English is bad, I know lol I count with the help of google translator ...

I was very happy with their visit ...

Oh, and I took advantage Freebie its AMAZING!
Thank you for caring!
Hugs!

Gayle said...

Thanks for the lovely wreath! :)

LouCeeCreations said...

Yes, our nursey rhymes all have a reason! my fave is ring 'o' ring 'o' roses.. all to do with the black death isn't it?
Your frame is a stunner Gaye :)

amsangel said...

Gorgeous frame, thanks so much!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the beautiful frame. Looks like a lot of work went into it.
Very interesting about the nursery rhymes.

PSP-Filiaal said...

Thank you for the beautiful cluster-frame and the information on nursery rhymes. Very interesting!
Lirios - the Netherlands

Marychops said...

Beautiful wreath frame. Thanks so much.

clubiani said...

this is beautiful! thank you so much for sharing

Tineke said...

Great frame, thank you

Anonymous said...

I want not approve on it. I think nice post. Especially the designation attracted me to review the intact story.

Anonymous said...

Nice dispatch and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you seeking your information.