Odd to think that a nursery rhyme about the bubonic plague would be a favorite of so many young children. I remember playing and singing this when I was little but I never knew what it was about. I liked the falling down part the best! While studying the Middle Ages, we discovered the origins and meaning of the song. Very interesting!
Ring around the Rosie-- refers to a red mark, supposedly the first sign of the plague.
A pocket full of posies-- people would put posies in their pockets to help cover the scent of death when they had the illness.
Ashes, ashes-- for the bodies that were burned (to ash) to stop the spread of infection.
We all fall down-- Basically means death. The Plague took victims who were rich or poor, young or old.
I am not a fan of the falling down part anymore!
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