"Having originated in Eastern Europe and travelled widely.
Eventually reaching these shores."
.,,.
That is said by some of many songs & tales. There was even a book pub'd some years ago by some woman whose name eludes me [it might still be on my shelves somewhere at that, becoz I think I remember even having reviewed it somewhere], urging the thesis that every single one of our songs & tales has an identifiable ancient oriental analogue. There seems to be competition among some 'authorities' in endeavouring to outdo one another in the 'discovery' of ever more esoteric origins; + no shortage of publishers willing to air such absurdities in the public prints to what they appear to imagine to be an ∞·ly gullible readership..

Pinch-o'-salt time, if you ask me! Or, as someone remarked, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar!

≈M≈