Here we go 'round the mulberry bush?

Question

Why would anyone go around a mulberry bush on a cold and frosty morning?

...maybe this one should've been put under "Botany"...

...but presumably the mulberry bush would've been outside? Wouldn't going inside and sitting by a nice fire be warmer?

blazes_m: I think you're talking about Ring-a-ring O' Roses...

Answer 1

Well according to this website (and the way I learned it) it's "so early in the morning."

http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/ballads/Lins038.html

It's basically a work song that teaches children the proper way to take care of household chores, and also teaches the days of the week. And, it teaches that you've got to get up early to get all that laundry done! (-: These days, it's so easy to dump in a load of laundry, we forget that laundry was a three-day job in the old days -- washing, drying, ironing and mending. Now we can sleep in, and still have a warm and toasty towel in the morning.

Answer 2

Its a subtle way of saying Sh*g to keep warm lol.

It was an innuendo that the adults knew but the kids were completely innocent to.

Plus as well, this would have been around in the very early 1800s, if not earlier. Heating was something for the rich and most people had very little money. Poorer children would have danced outside (round the mulberry bush) to keep warm because they couldn't have afforded the coal for a fire.

xCat

Answer 3

Because they were cold and danced round the mulberry bush to get warmed up

Answer 4

The mulberry bush we had in our back yard was HUGE..!!

Six of us could use it as a 'fortress' by ducking underneath and then climbing up the inside trunk of it.

In the winter, the "bush" was covered in snow and there were deep snow drifts everywhere, but we could still get in through the bottom where we had made our 'tunnel'

Answer 5

Don't you like eating the Mulberries??

They are yummy....

if you let the frost get them they spoil so I guess this was a last ditch attempt to "save" the mulberries from spoiling.

of course after they had been hit by the frost they didn't keep so they either had to be eaten or used immediately

mmmmmm...... mulberry wine.......mmmmmmmmmmm :D

Answer 6

no its cold enough in my house at the moment without thinking about going round a mulberry bush!!

Answer 7

I agree with Madam M. Here are the lyrics by the way, if it helps:

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush.
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we wash our clothes,
We wash our clothes, we wash our clothes.
This is the way we wash our clothes,
So early Monday morning.

This is the way we iron our clothes,
We iron our clothes, we iron our clothes.
This is the way we iron our clothes,
So early Tuesday morning.

This is the way we scrub the floor,
We scrub the floor, we scrub the floor.
This is the way we scrub the floor,
So early Wednesday morning.

This is the way we mend our clothes,
We mend our clothes, we mend our clothes.
This is the way we mend our clothes,
So early Thursday morning.

This is the way we sweep the house,
We sweep the house, we sweep the house.
This is the way we sweep the house,
So early Friday morning.

This is the way we bake our bread,
We bake our bread, we bake our bread.
This is the way we bake our bread,
So early Saturday morning.

This is the way we go to church,
We go to church, we go to church.
This is the way we go to church,
So early Sunday morning.

Answer 8

Did you know that mulberries are actually trees?
Peace out; have good holiday season

Answer 9

Ancient nature worship, like going round the May Pole. Saxons would drive cattle around tree set up in village with iron cockerel on top, to make them thrive and be fertile. Human influence on vegetation, eg fertility ensured by human sex acts.

Answer 10

Have you never been out on a cold and frosty morning it's brilliant, of course you put on a good warm coat and gloves,get together with your mates, but its fun,well it is when your seven any-way.