Can Anyone Help Us with the Translation of a Marquesan Song?

Manolia sent us this song below in Marquesan from the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. She said it's about a bird named Kuku. E Hina e pehea koe i uta (Marquesan) E Hina e pehea koe i uta Te puku au ia ko Nai! Na te manu! O ai te manu?? O Kuku! Kuku e petuhe Kuku e petuhe Kuke e petuhe If [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Lullaby from India called “Ninni Buba Ninni”?

John wrote asking for help with a lullaby: Hi Lisa, My father was born in India, Granny's family lived in India, between the early 1800's and 1947. There is an Indian Children's Lullaby, Ninnie Buba Ninnie, sung to my father and many generations of children. I am seeking the words and translation of the original, [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Slovenian Rhyme about St. Matthew Breaking up Ice?

Frank wrote to me: A long time ago, my dad told me a rhyme in Slovenian about St. Matthew. I can't write it in Slovenian but the English translation is as follows: St. Matthew breaks up ice. If he doesn't have it, he makes it. Do you know the origin of the rhyme and when in the calendar [...]

Counting-Out Rhymes

We're thrilled to add counting-out rhymes to our collection of English nursery rhymes whenever we come across them. Counting out rhymes help choose who goes first in a game, or who's “It”. I found these rhymes below in a book of games called What Shall We Do Now?: Five Hundred Games and Pastimes [...]

Teaching Kids about Japanese Festivals

I'm going into my daughter's class this week to talk about some Japanese Festivals.  It may be helpful to other people who are also covering this topic for me to outline what I'm covering with links to more material. 1) Hina Matsuri – Doll Festival – March 3rd – people pray for their daughters' future [...]

Jugoya – The Full Moon Festival in Japan

In Japan they celebrate Jugoya – the Full Moon Festival.  It's also a celebration of the harvest.  The day of the celebration varies since it's on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar.  It's usually on the night of the full moon in August or September.  Here's an illustration of [...]

Setsubun is a Japanese Holiday Celebrating Springtime

Today is a Japanese Springtime Festival called Setsubun. It's celebrated every year on February 3rd. The tradition is to chase out the demons from your house by scattering roasted soybeans. Ayako wrote to me about the holiday from Japan: Hi Lisa, February 3rd is “Setsubun” here. It is a ceremony, the day before spring, in [...]

Tanabata and the Meeting of the Star-Lovers

A few months ago I wrote about the Japanese holiday Tanabata, the Star Festival that takes place in July. The story behind the festival is now in an online book at Project Gutenberg.  Here you can read more about the festival and the story of the stars… The Meeting of the Star-Lovers One of the greatest days [...]

The Poem “Little Things” with an MP3 and a Request for the Hand Movements

“Little Things” is a poem written by Julia A. F. Carney (1823 – 1908). Here it is followed by a recording by Kaylee Kay: LITTLE THINGS By Julia A. F. Carney Little drops of water Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean, And the pleasant land. So the little moments, Humble though they be, Make the mighty ages Of eternity. So our little errors Lead [...]

It's Groundhog Day Today – The Groundhog Saw His Shadow, Meaning 6 More Weeks of Winter!

The significance of Groundhog Day is really that it marks the midpoint of winter. We're halfway there folks! Here's the famous saying that's told on this day… MP3 Recording of Groundhog Saying If the groundhog sees his shadow We will have six more weeks of Winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, We will have an early Spring. The groundhog did [...]