Gregory Griggs

Among the colourful cast of nursery rhyme characters, Gregory Griggs stands out for his rather peculiar obsession: owning twenty-seven different wigs! This short, memorable rhyme surfaced in the mid-19th century and is generally considered a delightful piece of nonsense verse. Its likely origin lies in the simple, satisfying rhyme between the name "Griggs" and the object "wigs," sparking a playful, slightly absurd character sketch rather than relating any profound moral or historical event.

While primarily fun, the rhyme invites a little imaginative character study. Why did Gregory need so many wigs? The verse suggests he wore them "To please the people of the town," hinting perhaps at a performative streak or a desire to entertain. His inability to choose a favourite adds a touch of comical indecisiveness. It’s a whimsical portrait of eccentricity, taking the historical fashion of wig-wearing (though less common by the 19th century) to an extreme for humorous effect, creating an image kids often find quite funny.

"Gregory Griggs" endures because it excels at what nonsense rhymes do best: it's rhythmic, easy to memorise, and creates a distinctively silly mental picture. There's no lesson to decode, just the pure fun of the language and the quirky character.