why does ring around the rosey have to be about the plague?

Answer 1

Historically it IS about the plague.
It's not a matter of "why does it have to be."
.

Answer 2

A popular interpretation[3] alleges that the rhyme is connected with the Great Plague of London in 1665, or perhaps earlier outbreaks of bubonic plague in England.[4] All available evidence and research suggests Ring a Ring O'Roses was not linked to the plague until the 20th century.[5] Regardless, this interpretation has entered into popular culture and is often used to reference the plague obliquely.[6]

Answer 3

Why do you ask? What is your theory?

The connection between this Rhyme was made by James Leasor in 1961 in his non-fiction book ' The Plague and the Fire.
Some people are sceptical of the plague interpretations of this rhyme, many stating that words in the rhyme cannot be found in Middle English.
The sceptics must be referring to the later version of the rhyme, possibly with American origins, the English version is "Ring a ring o' rosies" using the Middle English "o" as a shortening of the word "of".
The written word " posies" is first mentioned in a poem called 'Prothalamion or A Spousal Verse' by Edmund Spenser (1552-1599).
We believe that this addresses the views of the sceptics.

Answer 4

*rosy sore with ring around it -- ring around the rosey
*infected persons gave off awful odor, to cover up odor and not be quarantined, they would carry the pleasantly strong smelling posey flower in their pockets -- pocket full of posies
*burning of infected homes -- ashes ashes we all fall down
the burning usually occurred after the homes were boarded up for 40 days or in Latin [i think it's Latin] quarran tana (sp?)which is where "quarantine" comes from. If the persons inside had all died, the structure was condemned and burned.

on a side note, if you ever plan to travel to Lake Tahoe resort area, check with local authorities/officials upon arrival. The rats in the area still carry the fleas who can transmit the plague. Sections of area are quarantined at times.

Answer 5

It is a nursery rhyme inspired from the plague,

Apparently if you had the plague you would have a circle of spots appear on your skin i.e ring a' rosy

Every line is suppose to refer to something to do with the plague, i.e sneezing was one of the symptom's

Answer 6

why does it... i don't know... but it is...
ring around the rosy as afore mentioned the black rings one would get around rosy cheeks... but also it can be because the black rings caused the bleeding both internally and externally around the spot in a circle causing the inner part to be "rosy"
pockets full of posies does not refer to funeral flowers but in fact it alludes to their belief in herbal medicine at the time in which they believed that posies could protect them from the plague...
and yes all fall down says something about a good number or people dieing but not just dieing falling down from the decayed lower limbs of the body

Answer 7

yes, it does refer to the plague, but i didnt learn that until well after the last time i have ever sang it.

ring around the rosie = dark rings around pink colored cheeks
poket full of posies = funeral flowers
ashes, ashes = creamating the bodies
we all fall down = lotsa people died.

if you have kids, or younger siblings, just dont tell them, then you wont ruin it for them

Answer 8

It refers to the markings you get fromt he black death, the ring around your rosey buboes

Answer 9

Back when the kids played this game, they got the plague.

Answer 10

because that's the way they made it. if they didn't say it that way ppl would not be quoting it in the now.
it was never originally a nursery rime. some guy published it right after it all happened and he meant for it just to be a reminder of the terrible times.