N – Most Notable Nursery Rhyme – Literary Smackdown #AtoZChallenge 2016


Welcome to N and a favourite letter of ours in the AtoZChallenge. Today we are asking a question to take us all back to our childhoods. Which is the most Notable Nursery Rhyme? We have two classics for you, so please vote and tell us which one is your favourite.

Who will you vote for in Literary Smackdown

  • Ring o Ring o Roses
    Everyone says this is from The Black Death, but as many folk historists have pointed out, there is no evidence to point to this being true. The majority believe that it has Pagan origins and talks of Pagan practices. It’s always fun to dance in a circle and then all fall down (or at least it is for children ;)). For the full rhyme, see below.

or

  • Oranges and Lemons
    Now this was always a favourite at birthday parties, because there is a game that goes with it. Two people form an arch and everyone else skips through. Then after the last line the arch comes down and traps people – they then have to stand behind the two making the arch. It also has a great tune. For the full rhyme, see below.
Vote for the Most Notable Nursery Rhyme:

Ring o’ ring o’ Roses
Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down.

Oranges and Lemons

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement’s.

You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin’s.

When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.

When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!

Poll Maker

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Our Other Blogs

Sophie and Tasha are also sharing duties on one other blog for the AtoZ and they both have their own blogs as well. Visit them to see their exciting themes for this year.

Sophie’s Thoughts and Fumbles | Tasha’s Thinkings

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Other People’s Blogs

Now check out all the other blogs by visiting the AtoZChallenge list (I recommend leaving it open in another tab :)).

 

What is the AtoZChallenge?

For those who don’t know, the AtoZChallenge is a giant blog hop with thousands of blogs taking part. Every day in April, apart from Sundays, these blogs will post using a letter of the alphabet at a prompt, e.g. A on 1st, B on 2nd etc.
It has been running since 2010 and was thought up by the lovely Arlee Bird who put out a challenge and it has grown and grown since. It is a superb way to meet other bloggers and to have a huge amount of fun.

By Tasha

Author, publisher and cover designer; co-owner of Wittegen Press.

3 comments

  1. Thought at first that Oranges and Lemons was London Bridges. *grins* Similar content but we only had to remember That Bridge.

    Reply

  3. So I was always singing it wrong. We always said Ring Around the Roses.
    No, it doesn’t make sense, but neither the original version I guess.
    Very true, I always thought it was connected to the black death.

    Reply

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