I thought his might be an appropriate follow up for a few days after Halloween as it is a bit spooky. The more I check out the history behind nursery rhymes the more I realize they were really not for children.
Mary Mary quite contrary,
how does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
and pretty maids all in a row.
Fasten your seat belts and get ready for some turbulence!
The Mary alluded to in this rhyme is reputed to be Mary Tudor,or Bloody Mary. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue the Protestant faith. The silver bells and cockle shells were instruments of torture. The silver bells were thumb screws which crushed the thumb between two hard surfaces with the tightening of a screw. The cockleshells were torture implements attached to the genitals. The maids were a device to behead people also called the Maiden. This early guillotine was less than effective and often took several blows to accomplish the grisly task.
What do you think now about this seemingly innocent rhyme?
Mary Mary quite contrary,
how does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
and pretty maids all in a row.
Fasten your seat belts and get ready for some turbulence!
The Mary alluded to in this rhyme is reputed to be Mary Tudor,or Bloody Mary. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue the Protestant faith. The silver bells and cockle shells were instruments of torture. The silver bells were thumb screws which crushed the thumb between two hard surfaces with the tightening of a screw. The cockleshells were torture implements attached to the genitals. The maids were a device to behead people also called the Maiden. This early guillotine was less than effective and often took several blows to accomplish the grisly task.
What do you think now about this seemingly innocent rhyme?
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