An Apple a Day |
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We're all used to hearing the saying 'An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away' but did you know that it is actually taken from an old nursery rhyme?
No-one knows for certain when it was first written but the first printed version of it has been traced back to 1866 although it is believed that it originated long before that. It is also believed that the poem was written to encourage children to eat healthily.
AN APPLE A DAY
'An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Apple in the morning - Doctor's warning
Roast apple at night - Starves the doctor outright
Eat an apple going to bed - Knock the doctor on the head
Three each day, seven days a week - Ruddy apple, ruddy cheek.'
So you see - our 5 a day is really nothing new. Even two hundred years ago they were encouraging children to eat at least three apples a day and if I had been a child in medieval times I would have happily eaten 10 apples a day if it meant that I wouldn't have to risk a visit from this guy.
Medieval Physician |
Comments
My AtoZ Blog Challenge
Had no idea that the saying started as a nursery rhyme. Very neat!
Herding Cats - hope you don't have too many nightmares but he is pretty scary!
I had no idea it was a nursery rhyme either until I started researching it.
Good luck with the challenge.
Good luck with the rest of the challenge!
Glynis - you're welcome :) I didn't know it was part of a bigger rhyme either until I started looking into it for the challenge.
Daisy - I hadn't actually thought of that until you mentioned it! Roasted apples, with cinnamon and sultanas and cream...
Nancy
:D
Good luck with the challenge!
K.S. @ Adjective, Not a Noun
Loopyloo - I have to admit I didn't know about it either until I started researching for the challenge.
Nancy - thank you. Loving the challenge so far.
Andrina - I'm loving researching the nursery rhymes to find out where they came from. I'm excited to see what tomorrow's post holds too as I haven't actually finished it yet!!
K.S. - Thanks! Ring-Around-A-Rosy must have been an interesting one to research. It's amazing how seemingly innocent children's rhymes can actually have more sinister connotations.
Loving the challenge. Good luck to you too.
Alisia - I love apples too.
As far as Benjamin Franklin goes, I have looked into it a bit more and I believe that he took the single line from the rhyme and made it into the popular saying that it is today. That's why a lot of people attribute it to him so you were right - he made it famous.
Hi American in Norway and thanks for dropping by and commenting. Enjoy the challenge!
Shannon
Rebecca - thank you! I'm loving doing the research for it.
Enjoy the rest of the challenge!