Words

Words

Sunday, May 1, 2011

The truth behind "Mary Mary Quite Contrary"

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.


This is such an interesting nursery rhyme~
It may sound harmless, but the truth behind it is breathtaking~

Mary Mary quite contrary
> Mary actually refers to Bloody Mary (Mary Tudor) who killed countless Protestant men.

How does your garden grow
> "Garden" refers to the graves of Protestants which kept growing in number during her reign

With silver bells
> "Silver Bells" are actually thumbscrews which crushed the thumbs between two hard surfaces with the tightening of a screw.

and cockle shells
> " Cockle Shells" are instruments of torture which were attached to the genitals. (How were they used?? Go figure..;p )

And pretty maids all in a row
> "Maids" are devices (guillotines) used to behead people.

So next time, before you teach your child a nursery rhyme, look up the meaning first. Because something that sounds beautiful may have a completely different meaning~~^^

4 comments:

  1. Leant this in school. I'll never think of nursery rhymes the same again.

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  2. Ring a ring a roses a pocket full of poised was about people dying during the plague,which is also where bless you when someone sneezes comes from.

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  3. I think this is really helpful, if you want to know the meaning of 'Mary, Mary, quite contrary.' I would definitely recommend

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