Green Grow the Rushes Oh!
More than a year has gone by and during that time I have tinkered with other ways of reading the marseilles pips. But I have to say that my favourite so far is Mel's 'system'. But I during my tinkering I resurrected and began to research a completly un-tarot idea that still has appeal for me.
Long ago with playing cards I considered nursery rhymes, ditties & folk songs as a possible basis for the Ace-to-ten pip meanings. One song in particular kept threading through my thoughts, and now I've finally bothered to search the web for more information, and the more I discover the more ideal it seems. Some numbers are enigmatic and some are plainly understandable. But all of the numbers
can be interpreted in several ways - which is great for personal preferences. I'm having success with it.
So here it is - it appears to contain christian, jewish, pagan & astronomical elements. Take your pick! It's also easy to remember.
There are several versions of it where some words (or lines) are different, so taking into account the times and places of these differences there must surely be some version that may appeal to all (...or some...).
~~~ Green Grow the Rushes Oh! ~~~
(A quickie reminder. Originally said to be sung at christmas-time)
1)
Singer: "I'll sing you one song." ........
All: "Green grow the rushes -oh!"
People: "What is your one song?".....
All: "Green grow the rushes -oh!"
Singer: "One is one and all alone and evermore shall be so"
2)
Singer: "I'll sing you two songs." ........
All: "Green grow the rushes -oh!"
People: "What are your two songs?.....
All: "Green grow the rushes -oh!"
Singer: "Two, two the lillywhite boys dressed up all in green ho-ho!"
All: ..."One is one and all alone and evermore shall be so"
and so on.......
It's so familiar that I'm just giving the version I know, from the 12 counting down to one... and yes, I know there are only 10 pips in a deck
Twelve for the twelve Apostles
Eleven for the Eleven that went to Heaven
Ten for the ten Commandments
Nine for the nine Bright Shiners
Eight for the April Rainers
Seven for the Seven Stars in the sky
Six for the six Proud Walkers
Five for the Symbols at your Door (or cymbals?)
Four for the Gospel makers
Three, three, The Rivals (or, arrivals?)
Two, two. the lily-white boys dressed up all in green ho-ho!
One is one and all alone and evermore shall be so
..................................
In the late 1950s this used to be sung in pubs in the East End of London with much gusto. The words of the second 'song' (the two lilly-white boys) were somewhat different, accompanied by table banging, floor stamping and hand gestures. And a good time was had by all. A version was also known in Elizabethan times in England.
There are a number of sites that have information about the lines and their possible 'original' meanings. Here's a few:
Wiki-link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Grow_the_Rushes,_O
Word variation discussion.
http://www.folkinfo.org/forum/topic.php?topicid=405&pagenum=1&reverse=true
Scroll down to,"Green Grow the Rushes Ho"
http://www.messybeast.com/dragonqueen/12-xmas.htm
Bee