Pagan Mother Goose

Aside from the fact that Mother Goose is often depicted as a witch such as in these images below, nursery rhymes often have pagan meanings.  Most nursery rhymes can be considered the 'tabloids' of older times.  People often couldn't read or write so rhymes were created to spread gossip, rhyming being used as it is easier to remember.  Also, sometimes funny little verses of gossip about the rich or dignitaries were written in papers as a way to mock the elite without them knowing it.  I used to own the website "a Rhyme and A Reason" in which I researched the history of nursery rhymes.

The Real Mother Goose book
cover.  And, yes, I own this book.

Nuts in May

Here we go gathering nuts in May,
nuts in May, nuts in May.
Here we go gathering Nuts in May,
on a cold and frosty morning.

More Verses

The popular rhyme "Here we go gathering nuts in May" is quite a long little sing-song poem, but most people are familiar with the first verse.  It is believed that this is a derivation of "gathering 'knots' in May which are a term used for blooms of flowers. IIt is "referring to the old custom of gathering knots of flowers on May-day, or, to use the ordinary phrase, 'to go a-Maying.' [because] of course, there are no nuts to be gathered in May."  E. Cobham Brewer 1810-1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.

There is further speculation that the 'knots' do not refer to any kind of flower but just Hawthorne flowers, and Hawthorne trees have huge significance in paganism both old and new.  Gathering flowers on specific days is an herbal thing, and witches, healers, or medicine men and women knew when it was best to pick flowers...what days and times were best in order to keep the healing or metaphysical properties (basically the oils) in the plants.  

Hawthorne Tree

The fair maid who the first of May
goes to the fields at break of day
and washes in the dew from the Hawthorne tree
will ever after handsome be.

This rhyme is clearly "witchy magic" in that it talks of everlasting youthfulness and beauty.  Superstitions like these were very common and were often a societies way of making sense of the world.  But, superstition doesn't necessarily mean faslehood.  Many superstitions stick around because they work and have been tested true over time.  This may actually have health benefits as the dew can be very purifying and cleansing to the skin.  Now, it doesn't have to be a hawthorne tree, but you can see the impact this tree has for pagans.

More on Hawthorne Trees:  Hawthorne Tree or the Queen of May 

How to use the morning Dew in Paganism:  "If you go out at sunrise on Beltane, take a bowl or jar to gather morning dew. Use the dew to wash your face, and you're guaranteed a perfect complexion. You can also use the dew in ritual as consecrated water, particularly in rituals related to the moon or the goddess Diana or her counterpart, Artemis." from About.com

Ironically, both rhymes have to do with May and Hawthorne trees. :-)  This was not intention, but goes along great with a previous post on May Day. 

Hawthorne knots, or blossoms.

There are also divination rhymes in which a young maid would count buttons or petals on a flower and whatever word she stopped at was the occupation of her future husband.

Tinker, Tailor

Tinker, tailor,
soldier, sailor,

rich man, poor man,

beggar man, thief!

-or this version-

Rich man, poor man,

beggar man, thief,

doctor, lawyer, merchant,

Indian chief!

Here are some more rhymes and how they tie in with witchcraft:  Rhyming Witchcraft-History and Use of Rhymes