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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Oranges and Lemons
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Nursery rhyme imitating the chimes of bells in various London churches. It accompanies a game in which children pass under an arch of raised arms. As with *London Bridge is falling down, the excitement is that at a certain moment the arms will descend to trap a child – in this case after the recitation of 'Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop!'. The title comes from the best-known of the many verses ('Oranges and Lemons, say the bells of St Clement's'). Two London churches claim to be the one in question. *St Clement Danes has won the argument in the public's mind, but St Clement's Eastcheap is the stronger contender; it stands near the wharves where citrus fruit used to be unloaded.
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