To Market, To Market Lyrics
Jiggety jig, jiggety jog: the words bounce as much as the baby on your knee. To Market, To Market is an old English riding rhyme about going to buy a pig and coming home again.
To Market, To Market
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.
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 bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/to-market-to-market/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 0 to 4 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| To market, to market, to buy a fat pig | Bounce your baby gently on your knees. |
| Home again, home again, jiggety jig | Bounce a little faster on "jiggety jig". |
| To buy a fat hog | Slow down again for the next trip. |
| Home again, home again, market is done | End with a big hug. |
What Does To Market, To Market Mean?
Before shops were everywhere, families traveled to a weekly market in the nearest town to buy animals and food, often on horseback or in a cart. The rhyme copies that bumpy ride there and back. For babies, the rhythm and the bouncing are the whole point.
Learning Activities
- Shopping list: for toddlers, swap the pig for things you really buy, like apples or bread.
- Market play: set up a pretend market stall with toy food and a basket.
- Rhyme pairs: older kids can spot the rhymes: pig and jig, hog and jog, bun and done.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does jiggety jig mean?
It is a playful word for a bumpy, bouncy ride, like trotting home on a horse or in a cart.
How do you play To Market, To Market?
Sit your baby on your knees and bounce gently in time with the rhyme, a little faster on each "jiggety" line.