Multicultural School Festival with Food and Crafts

My daughter's class had a multicultural festival today.  All the kids brought in food from their culture… There were samosas from India… Pierogies from Russia… Jumu "Haitian" Soup…   That's only naming a few of the delicious dishes!  Some kids brought in crafts and activities from their culture… Swedish Paper Heart Ornaments are made in Sweden (and Denmark).  [...]

Does Anyone Know Where You Can Buy Ethnic Clothes for Kids

Ed wrote: Hi, Do you know where I could purchase an ethnic Swedish dress for a little girl (2 years old)? I would also be interested in Polish and/or German Dresses. Thanks Ed I know you can find Chinese clothes for kids in Chinatown in New York, but I'm not sure where you can get Swedish, Polish or German dresses. [...]

Can Someone Help with a Swedish Kids Song about Being Little Now, But Soon Being as Big as Mama?

Joyce Johnson wrote: Does anyone know the Swedish children's song that goes something like this? (Translation from dictionary is…) JAG er litten nu , så du se min vän , utom snart I'll bli så stor så mama. I believe translates into “I am little now, as you see my friend, but soon I’ll be as [...]

Can Anyone Help with the Swedish Lullaby, “Spin, spin, spin, min dotter min”?

Wendy wrote: I can remember my grandfather holding me on his lap an singing the following: (some in phonetics) Spin, spin, spin, min dotter min E meran kommer free and fran dotter spun och tor en run aldrigt kommer (free and fran?) Does anyone remember the correct wording? My daughter, whom I sang this to when she was little, now [...]

Can Someone Help with 2 Danish or Swedish Nursery Rhymes? We Have a Recording of Them!

Lori wrote: Dear Mama Lisa, I am so excited to find this website because I have been searching for many years to find out about two Danish or Swedish nursery rhymes (you can listen to them by clicking the link). My mother’s beloved grandfather, Lars Christensen, used to bounce her on his knee and recite these [...]

Does Anyone Know a Swedish Lullaby That Sounds Like “Tsat tun lit and forglit and paratntray”?

Leslie wrote: My grandmother is dying of cancer. When I was little she used to sing a Swedish lullaby to me about a little bird and sweet milk. It goes something like this: Tsat tun lit and forglit and paratntray… quilint and vockor lisit… ….spornot mot, ….reset…sit and milk made sovary silk and sank till savory… daiska lilla …mot por [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Swedish Lullaby?

Kristin wrote to me looking for help with a song: Hi Lisa, I was surfing and stumbled upon your site and I’m hoping you can help me. My Mother learned a song from her Grandmother. In fact, she remembers the song being sung to her every night as a child. My Great-Grandmother spoke little [...]

Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group

We'd love it if you'd join the Mama Lisa Facebook Group. You can post anything you'd like about your culture. You can post your own musical recordings or YouTube videos… Links to culture and musical sites… Photos of your country… Questions about songs or cultural issues… Anything related to World Culture and [...]

Can Someone Help with Some Swedish Children's Songs?

I recently received the following email asking about some Swedish kids songs… When my children were young we had Swedish neighbours and they taught them songs from Dalarna. Unfortunately I forgot the lyrics and can only remember the tunes. I would like so much to restore my memory of “Dansan med dokan” or “Ole sat pa en [...]

Bay Ridge — A Norwegian Neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York

Guest Blogger, Ed Gawlinski, has been involved in many cultural organizations throughout his life. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, near Bay Ridge, which was then a Norwegian neighborhood. The Norwegian neighborhood is now a great place for Middle Eastern cuisine. There are many fine restaurants in this area. Many of the [...]