Ever wonder how the nursery rhymes were made and what is the message behind each rhyme? It bothered me a lot since I've been singing Jack and Jill, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and so much more to my year old son. Mothers should be knowledgeable and should know what they sing to their kids. Nursery Rhymes are not just a bunch of words to make our children fall asleep at night, they actually teach us a bit of history.
Nursery rhymes are traditional poems and songs taught to young children. Learning different Nursery Rhymes can aid in the development of vocabulary and counting skills. Nursery Rhymes encourage children to appreciate music.
Here are some of the Most Famous Nursery Rhymes and their history:
Jack and Jill Went Up The Hill
Published in1795, the poem originated in France. Jack and Jill are said to be King Louis XVI, who lost his crown (beheaded) and his Queen Marie Antoinette who according to the poem came tumbling after. The poem was revised for it to be acceptable for children and to provide a happy ending! The beheading of the real Jack and Jill was during the Reign of Terror in 1793.
London Bridge Is Falling Down
The London Bridge is falling down Nursery rhyme is actually about a famous landmark in London. The London Bridge was originally built from wood and clay and was rebuilt with the different materials that are also mentioned in the nursery rhyme. Some of the disasters that struck the bridge were Viking invaders and fire.
Humpty Dumpty
Would you believe Humpty Dumpty was actually a large cannon? It was a war cannon used during the English Civil War. In 1648 a town called Colchester was town with a castle, numerous churches and was protected by a wall. Right across the city wall is the church of St Mary's and a large cannon, called Humpty Dumpty, was intentionally placed on the wall right beside St Mary's Church.
Rain Rain Go Away
The origin of “Rain rain go away" dates back to Queen Elizabeth I, who was one of the English Tudor monarchs. During this time, Spain and England was in constant rival. The Spanish Armada was sent to invade England but was defeated. Only 65 Spanish galleons and just 10,000 men returned to Spain. The failure was blamed not only because of how the smaller English ships fought but also by the stormy weather which scattered the Armada fleet.
These are just some of the famous Nursery Rhymes that I sing to my son. Remember, the next time you sing a lullaby or a rhyme to your kids, make sure that you tell them a little about how the rhyme got its name.
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