To think Wee Willie Winkie is actually terrifying?

[YonderRevoltingPeasantWhoIsHe]

I mean, running up and down people's stairs after dark in his nightclothes screeching at people through the keyhole to get into bed?

Highly sinister....

YABU, are you unfamiliar with childrens stories in general?

You obviously have a pfb Wait til you have 2 or 3. You'll be using these stories to keep them under control

Ha ha, how funny! You're overthinking it. Loved the story when I was little. Willy Winkie was a small BOY!!! Hardly sinister.

The screeching refers to the town crier, all nursery rymes have an orgin and historical story behind them.

Funnily enough i was discussing "Goosey Goosey Gander" today after talking about priest holes.

Wonderfully bonkers ! He ran through the streets in his nightgown!

Yes I know the origin, thanks . I was just thinking more about how a lot of children's stories are really violent/ weird.

I was terrified of wee willie winkie when I was a child. My parents had to tell me he wasn't real in the end as they were worried I was getting traumatised!

The one I find SINISTER is "hush a bye baby" on the tree top, when the wind blows, the cradle will rock, when the bough breaks the cradle will fall , down will come BABY and cradle and ALL!

Never sang it to my dc, wonder what it's origins are ?

"Cinderella stayed out till midnight"

Ah but don't forget the best thing that Cinderella taught us....a new pair of shoes really can change your life! :P

I was scared of him as a child. If I was messing around before bed my dad would knock on the walls and say "quick!! wee willie winkie!!" and that'd get me to bed one really bad time I was arsing around and he actually snuck outside and shouted through the letterbox.

I have actually just remembered this (really) - my dad says that when we were about 4/5yo, he larked out knocking on our groundfloor bedroom window. Went in later to tuck us in and found us both bolt upright in bed, with DSis saying very seriously, 'Daddy! Wee Willie Winky was outside!'