Ring around the rosie

So many children's tales, nursery rhymes, and the like, are so disturbing.

I played Ring Around the Rosie a lot when I was a kid. But let's deconstruct it for an example.

You see, it's theorized to be about the black plague.

Ring around a rosie (this refers to the round red rash, one of the first symptoms of the disease)

Pocketful of posies (flowers were believed to ward off disease)

Ashes, ashes (victims of the plague were cremated to prevent the spread)

We all fall down (dead)

Even though there are some people who say that this is merely myth and that this rhyme was not meant to refer to the plague, I think it makes sense. Even if it wasn't originally, this version seems quite clear, doesn't it?

Grimm's fairy tales are another place where you can see the disturbing nature of stories and fables meant for children.

I don't think we as a society have grown out of this tendency either. We let kids see the most violent, disturbing, and all around creepy TV and movies ever.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,

-T.A.D.