Ladybird, ladybird,
       Fly away home,
       Your house is on fire
       And your children all gone;
       All except one
       And that's little Ann,
       And she has crept under
      The warming pan.


While watching the little ladybird I thought of the nursery rhyme and its gruesome meaning and, like many nursery rhymes, its origins relate to events in history.   Various interpretations have been put forward including the most probable fact that it could be linked to the persecution of Catholics and might have been a coded warning if they were found practising their faith.    Another suggestion is that it referred to the Great Fire of London in 1666 but more recently it could be linked with the times when the harvest stubble was burnt and the ladybirds which helped to keep pests down were encouraged to fly away.  Whatever its original meaning young children today are happy to see ladybirds and think it is good luck if one lands on them.
 
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