LM_NET: Library Media Networking
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Part 2:
I found a reference to your question in Fabulous Feasts: Medieval Cookery
and Ceremony by Madeleine Pelner Cosman, published by George Braziller, Inc.
1976.
"Four and Twenty Singing Blackbird Pie, or Live Frog and Turtle Pie"
"The nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence suggests that the blackbirds were
baked in a pie to make a dainty dish to set before the King. Actually, the
pies were baked before the birds were tethered within! As an ardent
conservationist, I will not enourage the making of spectacle foods that
might endanger the animals within the pastry. However, the Medieval method
was essentially safe for the birds, some of which were raised for the very
purpose of adorning either feast spectacles or, indeed, the feast trenchers.
I have made such pies with wind-up, mechanical birds, which also were
popular in the Middle Ages as feast adornments; medieval automata and table
toys were exceedidngly popular amongst the nobility and those who aped their
habits." page 204 - Fabulous Feasts
The recipe follows in the book.
Your question interested me. I had a look around and found this site. It
suggests that 4 and 20 blackbirds were pirates!
http://www.snopes.com/lost/sixpence.htm
"four and twenty double dozen and the number 12 is rich in association,
> traditions and supersitions
> blackbirds = the hours of the day. or manorial (?) deeds or the letters of
> the alphabet celebrating the first English bible
> baked in a pie" in the 1500 there were recipies in how to bake a pie with
> live birds
> "pocketful of rye" possible that it was once a specific unit of measurement
> in recipes
>From The Annotated Mother Goose page 27.
--
Beverly A. Nelson
Media Generalist
Spring Grove Public School
Spring Grove, MN 55974
507-498-3221
bev.nelson@springgrove.k12.mn.us
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<TITLE>Hit: Part 2 "four and twenty blackbirds"</TITLE>
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Part 2:<BR>
I found a reference to your question in <U>Fabulous Feasts: Medieval Cooker=
y and Ceremony</U> by Madeleine Pelner Cosman, published by George Braziller=
, Inc. 1976.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
"Four and Twenty Singing Blackbird Pie, or Live Frog and Turtle Pie&qu=
ot;<BR>
<BR>
"The nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence suggests that the blackbird=
s were baked in a pie to make a dainty dish to set before the King. Ac=
tually, the pies were baked before the birds were tethered within! As an ard=
ent conservationist, I will not enourage the making of spectacle foods that =
might endanger the animals within the pastry. However, the Medieval method w=
as essentially safe for the birds, some of which were raised for the very pu=
rpose of adorning either feast spectacles or, indeed, the feast trenchers. I=
have made such pies with wind-up, mechanical birds, which also were popular=
in the Middle Ages as feast adornments; medieval automata and table toys we=
re exceedidngly popular amongst the nobility and those who aped their habits=
." page 204 - <U>Fabulous Feasts<BR>
</U><BR>
The recipe follows in the book.<BR>
<BR>
<TT>Your question interested me. I had a look around and found this site. &=
nbsp;It <BR>
suggests that 4 and 20 blackbirds were pirates!<BR>
<BR>
<FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF"><U>http://www.snopes.com/lost/sixpence.htm<BR>
</U></FONT><BR>
</TT><FONT FACE=3D"Helvetica"><BR>
<BR>
</FONT><TT>"four and twenty double dozen and the number 12=
is rich in association,<BR>
> traditions and supersitions<BR>
<BR>
> blackbirds =3D the hours of the day. or manorial (?) deeds or the =
letters of<BR>
> the alphabet celebrating the first English bible<BR>
<BR>
> baked in a pie" in the 1500 there were recipies in how to b=
ake a pie with<BR>
> live birds<BR>
<BR>
> "pocketful of rye" possible that it was once a specifi=
c unit of measurement<BR>
> in recipes<BR>
<BR>
>From The Annotated Mother Goose page 27.<BR>
<BR>
</TT><BR>
-- <BR>
Beverly A. Nelson<BR>
Media Generalist<BR>
Spring Grove Public School<BR>
Spring Grove, MN 55974<BR>
507-498-3221<BR>
bev.nelson@springgrove.k12.mn.us<BR>
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