Unknown to many of us, the term Bloody Mary and the rhyme Three Blind Mice actually have one thing in common-they refer to the same ruthless person.
The farmer's wife depicted in this rhyme is Mary I, the daughter of King Henry VIII and the Catholic Queen, Catherine, who ruled England from 1553 to 1558. She is known as "Bloody Mary" because of her atrocious acts; she ordered the torture and execution of many Protestants during her short-lived reign.
On the other hand, the three blind mice referred to in the rhyme are three Protestant noblemen who were charged of secretly planning to kill Queen Mary, and no, they were not blind. As punishment, these three men suffered a horrible death-they were burned alive!
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Nursery rhymes and their dark side
PoetryUnknowingly when we sing these nursery rhymes we engage our children with centuries-old tradition that seems harmless. Courtesy of The express Tribune
