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What are we really singing about?

“Ring around the rosy
A pocketful of posies
"Ashes, Ashes"
We all fall down!”

Many can, and probably did, sing this catchy little nursery rhyme but how many can tell what it’s actually about? Not that many. This cheery, up-beat song is actually about death. Sick and twisted but true.

The Bubonic Plague started around the 14th century and killed nearly 60% of the world’s population. 50% of the infected died within 4-7 days and the rest were usually cremated. So many died yet it is possible to survive the Bubonic Plague.

The infected persons would form circular skin rashes all over the body and start to sneeze violently. Many believe the disease was caught through bad smells so they carried sweet smelling herbs in pockets and pouches to prevent the bad smell coming upon them though they were wrong.

It is formed by being bit by small rodents such as rats, mice, fleas and squirrels that carry the infection. Not from person to person. The Bubonic Plague causes high fever, chills and swollen, tender lymph nodes, commonly found in the armpits, groin or neck. The middle ages had large numbers of flea-ridden rats infesting homes and workplaces. The Bubonic Plague came to Europe in October of 1347, spread swiftly through most of Europe by the end of 1349 and on to Scandinavia and Russia in the 1350s

Many argue that “Ring around the rosy” is not morbid and think people who believe it is are quite insane when in fact it is a morbid poem children of all ages like to sing. Read the lyrics think about them and if it does not click read the article again.