when you cant sleep ppl tell u 2 count sheep. why not badgers or squirrels or cats? laff
2006-11-10 12:30:46 · 27 answers · asked by cerys 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Counting sheep is a mental exercise used in some Anglophone cultures as a means of lulling oneself to sleep. It most likely arose from Yan Tan Tethera, a traditional numbering system used by some northern English shepherds to count their flocks......
2006-11-10 12:33:32 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I was stationed overseas and this is a folk lore there. The sheppards count the sheep to make sure they don't lose one as they move their flocks across the fields to graze. Herded animals sometimes tend to wonder off and it is dangerous for sheep because there are so many predators. So when children would say they can't sleep their parents tell them to count sheep hoping that this would relax them and they could fall asleep if they mentally focus on something.
2006-11-10 16:19:14 · answer #2 · answered by Serinity4u2find 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to wikipedia.com, counting sheep is a mental exercise used in some Anglophone cultures as a means of lulling oneself to sleep. It most likely arose from Yan Tan Tethera, a traditional numbering system used by some northern English shepherds to count their flocks.
2006-11-10 13:25:25 · answer #3 · answered by dtaschan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It probably has its origins in sheepherding, or at least that is my guess. My grandpa was a sheepherder and could count a huge herd accurately. If you had over a thousand head of sheep to count, that kind of monotonous chore would make someone not cut out to be a sheepherder start nodding off. Sheep look pretty similar - so a repetitive task makes you start going on auto pilot and start daydreaming - a state of mind that is helpful to relax and get ready to sleep.
2006-11-10 12:36:11 · answer #4 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I would say, count whatever you like. The habit of counting sheep probably came from that mattress ad on TV! ha ha!
2006-11-11 01:10:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
problematic point. browse with google and yahoo. that will can assist!
2014-11-18 20:08:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the Shepard answer... but seriously how pleasing does it sound to count badgers... squirrels maybe but who cares about them
2006-11-10 13:54:16 · answer #7 · answered by Zachariah F 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know for sure but I imagine it has something to do with shepherds counting their flock, whether in the field or at the stockyards or wherever else shepherds take their flocks of sheep.
My family used to have goats and when I wasn't the one catching the babies, I was counting them as they got treated or tagged. Let me tell you, it's boring and boring thing tend to evoke sleep.
2006-11-10 12:35:25 · answer #8 · answered by fireflyfangirl 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I am totally guessing at this but my guess is because of the sheep hearders. They had to stay out all night and keep an eye on the sheep and I am guessing counting all those sheep late at night made them even sleepier.
2006-11-10 12:33:23 · answer #9 · answered by girlinlove 3 · 5⤊ 3⤋
You obviously have a sheep obsession!
2006-11-10 12:33:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋