"Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" is an Englishnursery rhyme. The rhyme has been seen as having religious and historical significance, but its origins and meaning are disputed. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19626.
No proof has been found that the rhyme was known before the 18th century, while Mary I of England (Mary Tudor) and Mary, Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart), were contemporaries in the 16th century.[1][2]
Like many nursery rhymes, it has acquired various historical explanations. One theory is that it is a religious allegory of Catholicism, with Mary being Mary, the mother of Jesus, bells representing the sanctus bells, the cockleshells the badges of the pilgrims to the shrine of Saint James in Spain (Santiago de Compostela) and pretty maids are nuns, but even within this strand of thought there are differences of opinion as to whether it is lament for the reinstatement of Catholicism or its persecution.[1] Another theory sees the rhyme as connected to Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), with "how does your garden grow" referring to her reign over her realm, "silver bells" referring to (Catholic) cathedral bells, "cockle shells" insinuating that her husband was not faithful to her, and "pretty maids all in a row" referring to her ladies-in-waiting – "The four Maries".[1]
Mary has also been identified with Mary I of England ("Bloody Mary"; 1516–1558), with "How does your garden grow?" said to refer to her lack of heirs, or to the common idea that England had become a Catholic vassal or "branch" of Spain and the Habsburgs. It is also said to be a punning reference to her chief minister, Stephen Gardiner. "Quite contrary" is said to be a reference to her unsuccessful attempt to reverse ecclesiastical changes effected by her father Henry VIII and her brother Edward VI. The "pretty maids all in a row" is speculated to be a reference to miscarriages, her execution of Lady Jane Grey or alternately to her executions of the Protestants.[2]
^ abRoberts, Chris (2004). Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme. London: Granta. pp. 33–34. ISBN978-1592401307. OCLC 56646713.
January 19, 2024
mary, mary, quite, contrary, english, nursery, rhyme, rhyme, been, seen, having, religious, historical, significance, origins, meaning, disputed, roud, folk, song, index, number, 19626, illustration, william, wallace, denslownursery, rhymepublishedc, 1744lyric. Mary Mary Quite Contrary is an English nursery rhyme The rhyme has been seen as having religious and historical significance but its origins and meaning are disputed It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19626 Mary Mary Quite Contrary Illustration by William Wallace DenslowNursery rhymePublishedc 1744Lyrics edit nbsp William Wallace Denslow s rendition of the poem 1901The most common modern version is Mary Mary quite contrary How does your garden grow With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row 1 The oldest known version was first published in Tommy Thumb s Pretty Song Book 1744 with the lyrics that are shown here Mistress Mary Quite contrary How does your garden grow With Silver Bells And Cockle Shells And so my garden grows 1 Several printed versions of the 18th century have the lyrics Mistress Mary Quite contrary How does your garden grow With Silver Bells And Cockle Shells Sing cuckolds cuckoos all in a row 1 The last line has the most variation including Cowslips all in a row sic 1 and With lady bells all in a row 1 Meaning editNo proof has been found that the rhyme was known before the 18th century while Mary I of England Mary Tudor and Mary Queen of Scots Mary Stuart were contemporaries in the 16th century 1 2 Like many nursery rhymes it has acquired various historical explanations One theory is that it is a religious allegory of Catholicism with Mary being Mary the mother of Jesus bells representing the sanctus bells the cockleshells the badges of the pilgrims to the shrine of Saint James in Spain Santiago de Compostela and pretty maids are nuns but even within this strand of thought there are differences of opinion as to whether it is lament for the reinstatement of Catholicism or its persecution 1 Another theory sees the rhyme as connected to Mary Queen of Scots 1542 1587 with how does your garden grow referring to her reign over her realm silver bells referring to Catholic cathedral bells cockle shells insinuating that her husband was not faithful to her and pretty maids all in a row referring to her ladies in waiting The four Maries 1 Mary has also been identified with Mary I of England Bloody Mary 1516 1558 with How does your garden grow said to refer to her lack of heirs or to the common idea that England had become a Catholic vassal or branch of Spain and the Habsburgs It is also said to be a punning reference to her chief minister Stephen Gardiner Quite contrary is said to be a reference to her unsuccessful attempt to reverse ecclesiastical changes effected by her father Henry VIII and her brother Edward VI The pretty maids all in a row is speculated to be a reference to miscarriages her execution of Lady Jane Grey or alternately to her executions of the Protestants 2 References edit a b c d e f g h Opie Peter Opie Iona Archibald 1997 1952 The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes Oxford Oxford University Press p 301 ISBN 0 19 860088 7 OCLC 229161681 a b Roberts Chris 2004 Heavy Words Lightly Thrown The Reason Behind the Rhyme London Granta pp 33 34 ISBN 978 1592401307 OCLC 56646713 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Mary Quite Contrary amp oldid 1190029938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
