Mother Goose Day

by Diane Forrest

May 1, 2011

Mother Goose Day was created only recently, as a day to appreciate nursery rhymes and stories. They are a favorite of children and their parents.

The term "Mother Goose" dates back to the 1650's. It referred to stories like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. It does not appear to represent a particular person, as many of "Mother Goose" stories were written both before and after this term was first used. And, the stories were written by numerous authors.

Enjoy "Mother Goose Day" by reading Mother Goose stories and rhymes to your children or grandchildren.

When I was a child I had the big hard back Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme book with the black and white checkerboard cover. I loved spending hours reading the rhymes and looking at the colorful pictures. Later, as I got older, I learned that many of those rhymes were based on actual events that took place during the time they were written. Poems like Georgie Porgie and Peas Porridge Hot. They were such a memorable part of my childhood, that now I buy a copy when every new baby is born into my family, making sure it’s the big hard back cover edition. My favorite verse is the days of the week, I was born on a Friday.

Monday’s child is fair of face,

Tuesday’s child is full of grace,

Wednesday's child is full of woe,

Thursday’s child has far to go,

Friday’s child is loving and giving,

Saturday’s child works hard for its living,

But the child that’s born on the Sabbath day,

Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

Origin of Mother Goose Day:  According to the Mother Goose Society: "Mother Goose Day was founded in 1987 by Gloria T. Delamar in tandem with the publication of her book, Mother Goose; From Nursery to Literature.