To market, to market facts for kids

"To market, to Market" is a well-known nursery rhyme that talks about a common activity from the past: going to a market. In olden times, people would visit markets or fairs to buy and sell things like farm animals and fresh food.

What the Song Says

Nursery rhymes often have different versions, and "To market, to Market" is no exception! The first full version of this rhyme was written down in 1805 in a book called Songs for the Nursery. This early version didn't mention a pig.

Later in the 1800s, the rhyme became more popular with these words:

To market, to market, to buy a fat hen,

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,

Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.

To market, to market to buy a plum cake,

Home again, home again, market is late.

To market, to market to buy a plum bun,

Home again, home again, market is done.

To market, to market to buy a fat dog,

Home again, home again, jiggety jog.

To market, to market to buy a small chick,

Home again, home again, jiggety jig.

You might also hear other versions. For example, some versions specifically mention buying a pig:

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig!

Home with it! home with it! jiggety jig!

Stuff it till Christmas and make a fat hog,

Then at Smithfield Show win a prize, jiggety jog!

Where the Rhyme Comes From

Parts of this rhyme were first written down a very long time ago, even before the full song appeared. In 1598, a writer named John Florio published a dictionary. In this dictionary, he explained an Italian word by saying it was like "home againe, home againe".

Then, in a clearer version of his dictionary from 1611, he mentioned "Home againe home againe, market is done." This shows that the idea of going to market and coming home was already a common phrase.

The first time we see a version that looks more like the rhyme we know today was in 1805. It was printed in the book Songs for the Nursery and said:

To market, to market, to buy a penny bun,

Home again, home again, market is done.