The Intentional Mistake

I recently took a knitting class with a lady who said that according to the Amish, “You have to make a mistake in your knitting or you tempt the devil.” Another woman said it holds true for sewing and quilting projects too. TheAmish will deliberately insert a mistake in an otherwise [...]

Symbolic Foods Eaten Around the World for New Years

In many parts of the world, the foods eaten on New Years Eve and New Years Day have important symbolic meanings. These symbols seem to fall into several major categories. The first class symbolizes financial prosperity. This type of food is round like coins. Often, the dish will be round beans, [...]

Touring Amish Country

Last month we brought our children to the Amish country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Amish are a group of Christians originally from Germany, Switzerland and the Alsace region of France. They immigrated to the US in the 18th century. They believe in being separate from the society around [...]

May 1st in France

By Monique Palomares May 1st : this day has been a protest day in France since 1889 as a tribute to the workers of Chicago who died during the riots in 1886. It was a day off dedicated to demonstrations (off, but unpaid). It's been a (paid) public holiday since 1947. There are workers and [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Polish Song?

Sylvia emailed us asking for help with a Polish song her father and grandfather sang to her when she was young. Here's her email along with a recording of Sylvia singing the song: Recording of Song “Hi, I was wondering if you or anyone you know might be able to help me. My grandfather and [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Cuban Rhyme/Finger Play that starts with “Chiquitica así”?

Jeannie Backer wrote to us for help with a Cuban Finger Play. Here's her note... My mother from Cuba used to sing a song/rhyme to usthat I only partially remember, maybe you have heard something similar. It's not a song as much as a cute thing that a child says to adult to ask for

The [...]

About the Song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”

We received the note below with the song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”. Many variations of this song exist, including “Kumala Vista”. It also shares lyrics with the action song called “Flee, Fly, Flo“. Here's the email: “In the late 1950s, we lived near a [...]

Does anyone know this version of Catalina Matelina?

Dennis Lytle wrote to us asking for information about a rhyme: “Any info on the rhyme my parents taught us would be appreciated... I tell you bout vat girl of mine vat looks so sveet and dress so fine, vat come from Dootchland on the Rhine a couple of veeks ago. Her eyes are blue [...]