Blogpost 6: ""Humpty Dumpty: An EGG-citing Tale"

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put Humpty together again.

          Humpty Dumpty has been one of my childhood favorite nursery rhymes because I have always loved round things. As as a kid, most of my toys were balls, rings, plastic eggs, and round teddy bears; basically I love everything that is round, circular and spherical. That is also the same reason I adored Humpty Dumpty.

          I have always thought of Humpty Dumpty as a fat king who ate and drank too much. One day he sat on the wall of his palace, to see the view of his kingdom, and since he was really big and round he fell over. His knights and horses tried to put him back up again, but they couldn't since he was too heavy.

         There was this time when my mom told me that Humpty Dumpty was an egg, and whenever she cooked eggs for breakfast, I'd say that I was eating Humpty Dumpty.

Article called "Humpty Dumpty: The Origin of This Nursery Rhyme" written by Jennifer Wright from the website www.voices.yahoo.com says: 

Humpty Dumpty Canon

"During the English civil war, there was a battle referred to as the Siege of Colchester (1648). Colchester was a walled city and was guarded heavily by the Royalists. Inside the city walls stood a castle and a few churches. One church in particular, St. Mary's, stood right beside the wall. Humpty Dumpty was believed to be a cannon which was placed on the roof of the church and fired by a sniper called 'One-eyed Jack Thompson'. Story has it that the walls of the fortified city were shot at for 11 weeks before finally falling. The wall beneath Humpty Dumpty was destroyed and the cannon fell to the ground. Therefore "All the kings horses and all the kings men" tried to put Humpty back together again by attempting to place the cannon onto another part of the wall. Unfortunately Humpty Dumpty was too heavy and could not be replaced. This siege ended with Colchester being taken by the Parliamentarians."

Humpty Dumpty Falling Down

          Humpty Dumpty is an actual canon that was used to ward off anyone who wanted to conquer the Colchester City. It was very useful and effective. None of the people in the Parliament were able to penetrate through their walls until such a day came when the wall which was supporting Humpty Dumpty crumbled down and brought the huge cannon with it. Seeing that the defense of the Colchester City was down, the Parliament broke down the gates and fought the people with their guns and swords. Some of the townsfolk tried to put Humpty Dumpty to another location, but they failed to do so, since it was too heavy. 

          So Humpty Dumpty is actually a cannon- GREAT! It still don't understand why he is always referred as an egg in almost all of the nursery rhymes children know. In the nursery rhyme itself, there was nothing mentioned about Humpty Dumpty being an egg, maybe it was the people's notion why we think he is an egg now.

~Ken Ricafort~

Blogpost 5: "Ring Around the Rosie: Black Death"

Ring A Round A Rosie

"Ring-a-round the rosie,

A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!

We all fall down"

           This is a usual game we play when we were kids. Everyone would hold hands together, and then we will turn around and around and sing the song until we all fall down and lie on the grass. It is somewhat similar to the Tagalog rhyme "Bubuka ang Bulaklak". To a child this song seems to be a ridiculous pass time for him and his friends to play, but in reality, this song has a deeper and darker meaning.

           I have read in one of my researches that the new version of "Ring Around the Rosie" is called "Ring a Ring o Roses" which  actually goes like this:

"Ring a ring o' roses

A pocket full of posies

A-tishoo A-itshoo

We all fall down"

            Some sites say that this nursery rhyme is actually a song involving the Black Plage (also known as the Bubonic Plage) that dates back in 1665 or even way before the first outbreak in England that was in the 1300's. Back in the olden days, the people did not know what caused that wide-spread epidemic.

Death by the Bubonic Plague

In a website called www.william-shakespeare.info, in an article entitled "The Black Death Bubonic Plage During the Elizabethan Era" written by Prove Oxford, I read about the dark truth of the Black Black Plage and how it affected many people in England. The article says:

"In 1563, in London alone, over 20,000 people died of the disease. The Elizabethan City of London was filthy. It's population was growing continuously with poor people moving from the country to London in search of work. There was a total lack of a structured sewage system in Elizabethan London. All of the waste was just dumped into the River Thames. The River Thames is a tidal river and, as such, it would have acted like a natural sewer. But even so terrible epidemics of Black Death ( Bubonic Plague ) during the Elizabethan period still occurred. The spread was aided by the River Thames and its boats which were used as the major form of transport in London. The London streets were dark, narrow and dangerous and slow to travel through. Everyone used the river to move about and each London Elizabethan would have come into contact with the everyday presence of the dirt and the rats. A perfect vehicle for ensuring the spread of the disease in  London."

           What happened in the Elizabethan era was very tragic.  60% of England's population died and 35% of Europe's population were killed due to this massive epidemic. and not only did this place strike Europe, but also in other places around the world like China and Mongolia. 

People infected by the Black Plague

           Most of us feel sorry for the  millions of victims who died during the Elizabethan era, but what EXACTLY does this have to do with the nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie"? Well, here's your answer The first line, “Ring around the rosie,” describes the buboes that formed. (A bubo is a swelling in the lymph node). Most of the times the swelling is circular, thus forming a “ring.” The center turns black and is surrounded by a red rash. The “rosie” is the center of this reddish ring. The next line, "A pocket full of posies" tells us that the people would fill their pockets with sweet smelling flowers like posies and roses in order to ward off the bad smelling odors, thinking that the disease was transmitted by the foul smell coming from the sewers and the environment (but in reality, the foul smell came from the decaying bodies of the people that were thrown in "Plage Pits" and the sewers). The term "ashes ashes" meant the cremation or burning of the dead bodies of the Black Plague victims. The plague was only halted by the Great London Fire in 1666 which killed most of the rat who were carrying the disease and transmitting them VIA water sources. The English version of "Ring Around the Rosie" replaced the "ashes ashes" to "a-tishoo a-tishoo" as par to violent sneezing to be one of the major symptoms of the disease. The last line "we all fall down", meant the end for that person, when he dies due to the Black Plague. Once you have caught the epidemic you have 2-4 days left to live.

         Jeez! I never thought that one of my favorite childhood games was actually a song about death. Talk about CREEPY! Anyways, I still have other nursery rhymes to boggle your mind. I hope you like my review on this one though. 

~Ken Ricafort~

Blogpost 4: "Baa Baa Black Sheep: When Cliché Strikes"

Baa Baa Black Sheep

"Baa, baa, black sheep,

Have you any wool?

Yes, sir, yes, sir,

Three bags full;

One for the master,

And one for the dame,

And one for the little boy

Who lives down the lane"

          The black sheep in this nursery rhyme always interested me. I was thinking that the black sheep meant something like "the prodigal son" or the "dark horse" or even an "underdog". It's somewhat similar to a person who does not follow the status quo. I'll give myself as an example. I don't usually follow the trend or what's "in". Well, at least that's my opinion for the  meaning "black sheep".

          After doing some research I found some interesting facts about the the real meaning behind the nursery rhyme "Baa Baa Black Sheep"

Tony Bryne wrote an article entitled  "Meaning of the nursery rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep" in the website www.sunzu.com. In that article he said:

"In the Middle Ages, a hard-working peasant was required to give one third of his income to the King, "my master," and one third to the fat nobility, "my dame," leaving only a final third for himself, "the little boy." Payment was made in sacks of wool. In other words it was a tax. Another point about this is that wool from a black sheep was worth quite a lot less than ordinary wool. The term "black sheep" of the family derives from this too."

Edward II

           That is just so sad. The peasants: farmers, fishermen, merchants, etcetera, work hard to earn money, and they still have to give a part of it to the nobility. So that's why they stay as peasants. 

          Other sources tell me that this particular nursery rhyme is about King Edward. In his time, the best wool in England was produced. I also read other articles staying that before Edward became king, he was also known as the "Black Sheep" or the "Prodigal Son" of their family.

           As I was typing all of these, I suddenly came up with an idea. One of my opinions in this rhymes is about the "xenophobia" and racism of the English folk. I came up with this hypothesis that the black sheep meant the black slavery in the Old English times, when a "black" person would be treated as a slave, and will take orders from his owner "the master" and the masters wife "the dame" and the "little boy" who is actually the child of his owner.

          This nursery rhyme isn't as controversial and gruesome as the first two, however, you should not relax yet. There will still be more nursery rhyme truths that are coming, and I'm sure they will keep you up thinking at night. 

~Ken Ricafort~

Blogpost 3: "Mary Mary Quite Contrary: Hands Above Our Head"

Mary Mary Quite Contrary 

"Mary, Mary quite contrary

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockleshells

And pretty maids all in a row"

          I've always been hearing this nursery rhyme, but I never quite understood it fully. Unlike "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" whose rhyme is talking about the twinkling of the stars and "The Crooked Man" who was pertaining to a crooked man as per se, but the rhyme "Mary Mary Quite Contrary" is a rhyme I cannot fully apprehend. I know that contrary means "to oppose" or "to disagree".  I also know what a silver bell is (also called "Halesia or the Snowdrop", silver bells are can be considered as large shrubs or small tress depending on its size. It looks like our native "yellow bell" only it does not grow into a big tree and is more vine-like). However, I was wondering what a cockle (it's a bivalve mollusk; looks like a clam) and a bunch of pretty maids doing in Mary's garden.

          After thinking about it over and over again, i realized that Mary's garden is not a real garden, and that Mary herself in not the little girl we see in nursery rhyme books after all.

In the www.voices.yahoo.com website, I read this article entitled "Theories Behind the Nursery Rhyme Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" written by: Jennifer Wright. In this this article, she said:

"The first of these theories involves Mary I of Scotland. The first line "how does your garden grow" possibly referring to the length of her reign. "Silver bells" would be a reference to the church bells of the catholic cathedrals. "Cockleshells" could be an underlying statement that her husband was unfaithful and "pretty maids" would be a line about the death of her babies."

Mary, Queen of Scots

          Mary, Queen of Scots, who is also known by her other titles; Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was queen of Scotland, reigning  from The 4th of December 1542 to the 24th of July 1567. She was also the queen consort of France from the 10th of July 1559 to  the 5th December 1560. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King James V of Scotland (she became the Queen of England when her father passed away six days after she was born), and in 1558, she married the Francis, Dauphin of France (then she became the Queen Consort of the King of France, thus reigning over another kingdom)

Also in the same article, Jennifer said: 

"The most popular theory about Mary, Mary quite contrary is the one about Mary I of England. She was Mary Tudor the daughter of King Henry the XIII, also known as "Bloody Mary". Mary Tudor was well known for her obsessive mission to return England to its Catholic religion.  The "how does your garden grow" as the growing size of the graveyards. The graveyards were growing so rapidly because there were Protestants who were executed because they were unwilling to give up their faith and practice as Catholic. "Silver Bells and Cockleshells" refer to torture devices. Silver Bells were thumbscrews, which caused the thumb to be smashed between two flat surfaces by a screw being tightened up. Cockleshells were a device for torturing that was placed on the genitals. Then of course the pretty maids would refer to the guillotine type machine called "the maiden." Beheadings and being burned at the stake were very popular during the reign of Mary Tudor.It's very interesting to see the history of where our little nursery rhymes came from. Even if they are a bit dark, they are more a part of our history than just something to entertain our children."

Mary I of England

          Mary I of England earned her title as "Bloody Mary", because of her gruesome and merciless way of killing protestants and those who practice the protestant faith. No one was speared; weather a grown man or a child, she killed everyone who opposed her in the most horrible and dreadful manner. Mary was often confused with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots (yes, they are cousins) who lived at the same time. Some people say that the nusrsey rhyme "Mary Mary Quite Contrary" is actually pertaining to Mary, Queen of Scots, but I have to disagree with them, becaused I am deeply convinced that the nursery rhyme is pertaining to the the real blood-thirsty prosecutor; the one and only "Bloody Mary", Mary I of England.

          Now that was creepy, wasn't it? I know that you can feel your childhood slowly fading away; the truth of the world revealed to you. Is reality getting into your head? Is it boggling your mind? Well, I can feel that too when I first read about this stuff. What a revelation!  Stay tuned, and I will unveil the truths of your favorite nursery rhymes. 

~Ken Ricafort~

Blogpost 2: "Jack and Jill; Who Owns the Crown?"

"Jack and Jill went up the hill,

To fetch a pail of water,

Jack fell down, and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after"

          Jack and Jill- one of the most common nursery rhymes that children know. It tells a short story of a boy and a girl who went up the hill to fetch a pail of water, but surprisingly, the boy fell down for some reason, and the girl came tumbling after. That would seem really funny for a kid at the age of two or so; I also found that funny when I was a kid. But when I grew up, I realized the something was wrong with this rhyme. Why would Jack suddenly fall down without any reason at all? Yes, it might be comical and funny, but still, I wanted to know the real answer. So I did my research and searched the internet for some answers. 

In a website called http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com, Perpetualplum wrote this article entitled "6 Nursery Rhymes with Sinister Origins" In this article, one of those six nursery rhymes as Jack and Jill. Perpetual plum says:

"This nursery rhyme originally comes from France. It referred to King Louis XVI (Jack) and Queen Marie Antoinette (Jill). A horribly graphic and dark tale, it beautifully details the commonly occurring beheadings of 1793, aptly name the Reign of Terror. 

Dismembered heads survive at least eight seconds after being removed from the body. During the berief time that it takes for oxygen to cease being pumped into the head, the person still remains concious and can see. The executioner would hold up the head to the crowds not only to gross the people and place fear in their hearts, but also to let the head know it was detached from its body"

 King Louis XVI

          King Louis XVI was a really cruel king. From the moment he he was crowned, France's economy shot downwards, the crops died one by one and the prices of the food and bread rapidly went up. The livestock of many merchants went backrupt and many people were dying of hunger. No one was happy about the state of their conty at that time. To top it all off, Louis married an Austrian empress named Maria Antoinette. Most of the people in the 1700's were xenophobes (xenophobe- a person that has an intense irrational dislike or fear towards anyone who is not or their kind; racist), and they blamed Marie as the cause of all their problems. 

          Louis did not know how to handle the state of his country at the time so he decided to assemble the States-General. This is a national assembly that is represented by three "estates" of the French people. These are: the nobles, the clergy, and the common folk. The States- General had not been assembled since 1641, and the 'commoners' used this opportunity and declared themselves as the "National Assembly", igniting the French Revolution.

          The commoners revolted because they were already suffering from the rule of Louis XVI. He proclaimed himself as a "god" and that all the people must follow his orders. If they defy him, they would be sentenced to death. While his kingdom was suffering from hunger and famine, he and his wife were still living in luxury and extravagance. 

Queen Maria Antoinette

        As per my opinion, this might be the hidden meaning of this nursery rhyme is this: Jack and Jill went up the hill (Louis XVI and Maria Antoinette reach the highest position in France as King and Queen) to fetch a pail of water (they were doing illegal things while they were reigning over France) Jack fell down and broke his crown  (King Louis XVI was executed VIA Guillotine in Place de la Revolution, Paris, France on the 21st of  January 1793) and Jill came tumbling after (Maria Antoinette was executed nine months later; October 16, 1793, in the same place)




          I think that this nursery rhyme was created in order to spread the word of Louis XVI's death to the whole France, without alarming the monarchy, and since most of the common folk did not know how to read or write, creating this song made it much easier for them to understand.

          So what do you think? Does this nursery rhyme still sound cute for you? 

~Ken Ricafort~