the real meaning of ring a ring a roses
Ring a Ring o' Roses
The origins and meanings of the game have long been unknown and subject to speculation . In 1898 , A Dictionary of British Folklore contained the belief that an explanation of the game was of pagan origin , based on the Sheffield Glossary comparison of Jacob Grimm 's Deutsche Mythologie . The theory states that it is in reference to Pagan myths and cited a passage which states , `` Gifted children of fortune have the power to laugh roses , as Freyja wept gold . '' Believing the first instance to be indicative of Pagan beings of light . Another suggestion is more literal , that it was making a `` ring '' around the roses and bowing with the all `` fall down '' as a curtsy . In 1892 , the American writer , Eugene Field wrote a poem titled Teeny - Weeny that specifically referred to fey folk playing ring - a-rosie . According to Games and Songs of American Children , published in 1883 , the `` rosie '' was a reference to the French word for rose tree and the children would dance and stoop to the person in the center . Variations , especially more literal ones , were identified and noted with the literal falling down that would sever the connections to the game - rhyme . Addy 's interpretation failed to account for the sneezing , which had not carried over to the United States and was losing ground in Britain , as another instance of the Pagan influence . Again in 1898 , sneezing was then noted to be indicative of many superstitious and supernatural beliefs across differing cultures . 
The origins and meanings of the game have long been unknown and subject to speculation . In 1898 , A Dictionary of British Folklore contained the belief that an explanation of the game was of pagan origin , based on the Sheffield Glossary comparison of Jacob Grimm 's Deutsche Mythologie . The theory states that it is in reference to Pagan myths and cited a passage which states , `` Gifted children of fortune have the power to laugh roses , as Freyja wept gold . '' Believing the first instance to be indicative of Pagan beings of light . Another suggestion is more literal , that it was making a `` ring '' around the roses and bowing with the all `` fall down '' as a curtsy . In 1892 , the American writer , Eugene Field wrote a poem titled Teeny - Weeny that specifically referred to fey folk playing ring - a-rosie . According to Games and Songs of American Children , published in 1883 , the `` rosie '' was a reference to the French word for rose tree and the children would dance and stoop to the person in the center . Variations , especially more literal ones , were identified and noted with the literal falling down that would sever the connections to the game - rhyme . Addy 's interpretation failed to account for the sneezing , which had not carried over to the United States and was losing ground in Britain , as another instance of the Pagan influence . Again in 1898 , sneezing was then noted to be indicative of many superstitious and supernatural beliefs across differing cultures .
The origins and meanings of the game have long been unknown and subject to speculation . The theory states that it is in reference to Pagan myths and cited a passage which states , `` Gifted children of fortune have the power to laugh roses , as Freyja wept gold . '' Another suggestion is more literal , that it was making a `` ring '' around the roses and bowing with the all `` fall down '' as a curtsy .
The origins and meanings of the game have long been unknown and subject to speculation . The theory states that it is in reference to Pagan myths and cited a passage which states , `` Gifted children of fortune have the power to laugh roses , as Freyja wept gold . '' Another suggestion is more literal , that it was making a `` ring '' around the roses and bowing with the all `` fall down '' as a curtsy .