

There have been a wide variety of children’s shows that have used this rhyme in their programming including Barney, Sesame Street and Mother Goose Club. Digital Jack Be Nimble nursery rhyme poster / 8 by 10 / downloadable, printable / vintage boy Mother Goose digital print / wall art decor Item details FAQs. RYL Forums » General Forums » General Chat » Fun and Distractions » Adult - adult nursery rhymes, rudeswearing Forum Jump. It’s a catchy kids poem that’s been used throughout the years at home or in school where some children even make crafts based on the piece – taking construction paper or felt to make pictures of candlesticks in memory of it, for example.

Nobody is quite sure about the true origins of Jack Be Nimble, but these theories sure make one wonder how the famous nursery rhyme developed over time. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was said to be good luck to jump over a lighted candle without extinguishing the flame. Generally practiced at festivals in England, young girls would leap over a lit candle, trying not to extinguish its flame. Jack Be Nimble Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick.

It’s also been said, that the kids poem was created to explain the practice of candle jumping, which was famous back in the 1600’s. Loved ones of the ill would place a candlestick by the patient’s bedside in order to lessen their chances of contracting infections, giving possible meaning to the phrase, “Jack jumped over the candlestick”.

It is also said that Jack Be Nimble was written in celebration of a Captain Black Jack.Īnother theory for Jack Be Nimble’s origins, is that it was written to tell the tale of an outbreak of yellow fever. Origin lost in the depths of time Unable to trace a commonly agreed upon origin for this particular nursery rhyme however could be. The most common theory, is that the poem was originally a tribute to the famous pirate Jack Rackham, who in the 1700’s landed in Jamaica and had many adventures, until he was captured. Nursery Rhyme Jack Be Nimble Description Reviews Related products Anniversary Seasons of Love Summer Greyhound Apple Blossom Time Inspiration comes. Jack Be Nimble, is one of many popular nursery rhymes with a tale to tell. Changing ever so slightly throughout the years, some of the origins of these pieces may surprise you. It is interesting to note that Jack be nimble is now being referred to as Jack b nimble - the influence of the modern day practise of texting! The first publication date for Jack be nimble is 1798.Many poems for kids from long ago have hidden stories behind them. Due to the cost of candles some employers only allowed the use of candles during the darkest months of the year and centred around Candlemas Day, known as the candle season. Here it was traditional to dance around the lace-makers great candlestick and this led to jumping over the candlestick. In Wendover there were lace-making schools (a good excuse for using children as slave labour). This dangerous game was banned and replaced by the far less dangerous sport of Candle leaping. The tradition of candle-leaping originated from an old game of jumping over fires. The words of the Jack be nimble rhyme cannot be further analysed due to the brevity of the text of the lyrics but could be associated with the old tradition and sport of 'candle leaping' which used to be practised at some English fairs. The most commonly agreed origin for the Jack be nimble rhyme is the connection to Black Jack, an English pirate who was notorious for escaping from the authorities in the late 16th century hence Jack be nimble. Origin and History to the words of Jack be nimble
