But sheer volume of sites is not an indication of reliability. The sites that you (Jean) have cited are anecdotal and provide no sources to back up their statemetns. Snopes is a serious site, it provides sources, and the argument that this "bubonic plague nursery rhyme" wasn't attested until 500 years after the Plague is pretty compelling evidence, as is the assertion that the Plague explanation didn't show up until 1961. That has all the hallmarks of an after-the-fact explanation, like prophecies that are "pre-dated", so that they can claim to have accurately "foretold" the truth. I find the Snopes explanation convincing.
Avital, who needs a t-shirt that says "I left the Dead Sea Scrolls for the Shopping Channel!" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Nathan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Chat" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, February 29, 2004 7:17 PM Subject: [lace-chat] Origins of "Ring around the rosies" Sue wrote: <This is actually one of those unfortunately wide-spread "urban myths." The problem with UM's, of course, is that they *sound* plausible, even if they turn out to be inaccurate or out-right false. See this link for more info: http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.htm --sue> Without much effort I found the following UK web sites which say that the rhyme is to do with the plague: http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/1479.html http://www.historiclondonpubs.co.uk/punch.html http://www.prayingeachday.org/Sept07.pdf http://www.a-london-guide.co.uk/information/default.asp?type=articles&subtyp e=details&subareaID=1&attractionID=47 http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/a_brief_history_of_london.htm I'm sure there are equally as many which say it isn't. Most nursery rhymes were handed down by word of mouth before being written down. The words may have been corrupted through the years, but I think it's generally accepted that most nursery rhymes have their origins in events in history: "London Bridge is falling down....." attacks by Vikings in the 10 hundreds "Remember, Remember the 5th of November....." the gunpowder plot 1605, etc Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
