09 March 2009

La Fête du Citron (Music of the World) - the Ladybird


Ladybird or Ladybug - perhaps it depends where you live. This little one got into the spirit of the Corso.

Ladybird ladybird fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are gone,
All except one and that's little Ann,
For she crept under the frying pan.


This nursery rhyme would be chanted by a small child when this pretty, little, inoffensive insect landed on their person. If the ladybird did not fly away of its own accord (and it was considered bad luck to kill a ladybird) the child would gently blow it away chanting "Ladybird Ladybird fly away home".

Ladybirds are useful as eaters of aphids, which would otherwise damage plants. Never ever kill a ladybird!

16 comments:

  1. la coccinelle qui porte bonheur. Superbe

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  2. I've never hear the word labybird used, only ladybug.

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  3. Nice photo, sweet story. In italian too is "coccinella"...

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  4. Cute photo.

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  5. Never!! I consider them Good Luck, lol.

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  6. Awww, she's adorable!

    Now that you've mentioned it, I haven't seen a ladybug in years. That's strange…

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  7. A ladybug (as I used to call it) or ladybird is known here as 'buba mara' (BOO-buh MAHR-ruh), but I don't think there's a poem or even a superstion about them. They're cute, though, and Bibi's favorite toy is a squeaky ladybug.

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  8. Never ever kill a creature. Ladybirds I love they say summer and childhood, rhymes with no reason. Really cute image.

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  9. Trop mignonne, la coccinelle !
    J'adore les plumes d'hier aussi !

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  10. Very nice picture, Jilly. It's one of the few bugs that I can touch without revultion.
    So kind attitude. Once again a spendid "people picture" with soul.

    It's funny because I've found a little bee-girl on a scooter at Menton. I didn't manage to take a clear picture, she went too fast....She flew off

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  11. Too cute:) Ladybirds are always a welcome guest in my garden! neat costume.

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  12. One of my students works in a place where they"breed" ladybirds. She gave me a box of larvae last summer to put on my roses!
    Love this costume..and the confetti in dad's hair.

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  13. How cute is she?! This has been a great series of photos.

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  14. The colour of the child's garment is great for the photo. Nice capture!

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  15. Over here in England we used the ladybird and I really like them, especially as they are a gardeners friend. If I owned a VW beetle I would get a ladybird paintjob.

    I love your photo, thanks.

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