Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick!
The nursery rhyme "Jack Be Nimble" dates back to at least the early 19th century. It was first printed in the 1815 collection Gammer Gurton's Garland and has been passed down through generations as part of English-speaking folklore.
It is believed to originate from an earlier tradition of jumping over candlesticks, which was a game or ritual associated with good luck in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ability to clear the flame without extinguishing it was seen as a sign of good fortune and agility.
So, "Jack Be Nimble" is over 200 years old and still a well-loved rhyme!
-- ChatGPT