The words and rules of the game were first quoted in the
Folk-Lore Record, E. Carrington (1881), followed by a similar description among the games for choosing partners by G.F. Northall (1882). Carrington described the game as played among girls, Although the rhyme was also known in the U.S. at the same period, it is described as “probably a recent importation from England” by
W.W. Newell (1884). Texts were also recorded later in
Canada (W.J. Wintemberg,
et al., 1918), among black children in
Jamaica (M.W. Beckwith, 1922), and as also being found in
New Zealand (Sutton-Smith, 1953). One of the most comprehensive descriptions given to the game was by
A.B. Gomme (1894-1898) who reported variant versions collected from around Britain and Ireland, and speculated on the origin of the game. Since nuts are green in the spring, what is supposed to be gathered is particularly questionable, or a paradoxical joke. Gomme’s preference for the original wording is "knots (flower posies) of
may-[blossoms]", in which she follows Northall's suggestions, and refers the game to former
May Day ceremonies – which took place early in the morning. The alternative lines "On a fine summer’s morning" and "So early in the morning", as well as Newell’s "On a May morning early", describes 17th century rural customs that might lie at the base of what eventually has become a childhood game. Gomme also pointed out that the pairing that went on then was often less than innocent, ==References==