Alphabe Thursday R is for Rain Rain …

This is Brazil where the rain is wet … but it didn’t ever spoil our holiday.

I come from England where it rains a lot, it is not just wet but cold ! It is unpredictable;  as grownups we harp on about the importance of rain and bemoan its absence.  We are even incline to pray for it, when our gardens begin to wilt and our lawns turn brown  However, as children we enjoy endless sunny days and any sign of rain is outrageous. I can remember chanting when clouds gathered over the South Downs!

Rain, rain go away,

Come a again another day.

This little ditty is considered by some to have old roots; Aubrey wrote in 1687 ‘Little children have a custome when it raines to sing, or charme away the rain;thus they all joine in a chorus and sing, viz.

Raine,raine goe away,

Come againe a Saterday.

Some say children in ancient Greece had a similar practice. According to Strattis (c. 409-375 BC when a cloud obscured the sun they would call out ‘Come forth beloved sun!’

In England the old song has some variations such as :-

Rain, rain go Spain;

Never show your face again.

Rain, rain go away,

come again on April day or Midsummer day or Washing day

or

Don’t come back til Christmas day

Little Arthur wants to play.

Rain on the green grass, and rain on the tree,

And rain on the housetop, but not on me.

Rain, rain, pour down,

But not a drop in our town.

Rain, rain come down and pour,

Then you will only last an hour.

I expect there are many more ….