Bo Peep February 15, 2017 All Rhymes 0 Comments

Girl wearing the yellow petticoat and green gown

Daffy Down Dilly

Daffy Down Dilly
Has come to town,
In a yellow petticoat
And a green gown.

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Posted in All Rhymes, Historical & Traditional, Mother Goose Classics, Nature & Seasons, People & Characters

Tagged daffodil, flowers, green, nature, spring, yellow

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Meaning

This rhyme personifies the daffodil flower as a lively young woman named “Daffy-down-dilly,” dressed in the flower’s characteristic yellow and green colors. It symbolizes the arrival of spring and the cheerful renewal of nature after winter. The tone is bright, whimsical, and observational.

Origin

The rhyme originates in England, with linguistic roots in dialectal or folk naming of flowers. “Daffy-down-dilly” was a common 17th- and 18th-century name for the daffodil. The rhyme evolved from earlier poetic and folk references to the daffodil as a symbol of spring and cheerfulness.

Time Period

Earliest known in oral tradition from the 1700s, and appeared in print by the early 19th century. It likely became popular during the Victorian period, when personifying flowers and seasons was common in children’s verse.

Why It Became Popular

Its short length, musical cadence, and visual imagery made it ideal for nursery use, especially in spring-themed recitations and nature lessons. The use of flower names and personification appealed to Victorian ideals of nature, femininity, and innocence.

First Known Publication

Appeared in James Orchard Halliwell’s The Nursery Rhymes of England (1842), though earlier forms may have existed as part of folk verse or children’s games.

Structure and Style

Meter: Trochaic dimeter
Rhyme Scheme: AA
Line Count: 2 lines
Style Notes: Extremely short, playful, and rhythmic. Uses alliteration (“Daffy-down-dilly”), personification, and color imagery to bring the flower to life in a vivid, child-friendly way.

Themes

Spring
Nature
Renewal
Femininity
Cheerfulness

Language Notes

“Daffy-down-dilly” is a folk name for the daffodil, especially common in 17th–19th century English dialects.
“Yellow petticoat and green gown” describe the flower’s yellow trumpet and green stem/leaves, cleverly turned into clothing.
The rhyme reflects older personification traditions often found in flower lore and medieval pageants.

Moral or Lesson

None clearly intended. The rhyme is observational and celebratory, designed to delight rather than instruct.

Historical or Cultural Notes

The rhyme reflects a time when children were taught about the seasons and plants through personification and verse. “Daffy-down-dilly” also appeared in 17th-century literature as a metaphor for freshness or lightheartedness. The rhyme’s association with springtime rituals may relate to seasonal festivals or school traditions marking the end of winter.

In addition, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a short story titled Daffy-down-dilly in the mid-1800s, further cementing the flower’s literary presence.

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