Mama Lisa's Books

St. Martin's Day in Malta

St. Martin's Day is celebrated in Malta on the Sundayclosest to November 11th, the saint's day. Children are given colorful cloth St. Martin's Bags calledbor?a ta' San Martin in Maltese. The bags are filled with seasonal fruit, nuts and sweets such as apples and oranges, almonds, walnuts, [...]

Improvisational Maltese Folk Music

G?ana is a type of traditional Maltese folk music that has an improvisational aspect to it. According to Wikipedia, “The very origins of Għana can be traced back to early peasant farmers.” G?ana was a way to pass time while doing chores. Sometimes women especially would sing [...]

Figolli – Maltese Easter Cookies (Recipe)

Figolli are traditional Easter cookies from Malta. They're typically made during the Lent season and given to family, friends and little ones on Easter.  Figolli are similar to shortbread. They have an almond/marzipan filling and are finished off with colorful icing. Each figolla is [...]

Mama Lisa's World News and Multimedia Features

A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures. When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures – that's a lot of information! In [...]

May Day – Labor Day Marches and Rallies Around the World

In an earlier entry, I wrote about the history of Labor Day. In case you were wondering, here are some of the countries where demonstrations were held or where Labor Day was in some way honored around the world today (in some cases against the wishes of the government)... Russia Belarus Japan [...]

Carnival Song from Malta, with an English Translation

Carnival took place last Tuesday, and last week I presented different songs for the occasion from around the world. Here's one that I was sent yesterday, from Malta. It's a little late, but I really like it! Perlini u prinjolata (Maltese) Perlini u prinjolata matul il-karnival dawn huma jiem ta [...]

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 [...]