About Jersey
Jersey is an island located in the English Channel just north of France. It's one of the Channel Islands. It is a British crown dependency, though it is not considered part of the United Kingdom or the European Union. The UK is responsible for its defense and its international representation.
The principal language of Jersey is now English, which is also the official language of the country. That wasn't always the case. Jèrriais, a Norman French language, was the main language of the island until the 20th century. Jèrriais is still spoken by a small percent of the population. There's a movement now to try to preserve it.
Here are some of Mama Lisa's recent posts about the music, culture and traditions of Jersey:
Here’s the French poem Le Thé (Tea) by Théodore de Banville with an mp3 recording. After the poem you’ll find an English translation. MP3 of Le Thé Le Thé Miss Ellen, versez-moi le Thé Dans la belle tasse chinoise, Où des poissons d'or cherchent noise... Read more »
Here’s a lovely poem about The Wind by Robert Louis Stevenson with a couple of mp3 renditions. MP3 of The Wind 2nd MP3 of The Wind The Wind I saw you toss the kites on high And blow the birds about the sky; And all around I heard you pass, Like ladies’ skirts across the grass– O wind, a-blowing all day long, O wind,... Read more »
Here’s a little poem about clouds by Christina Rossetti. MP3 of the Poem "Clouds" Clouds by Christina Rossetti White sheep, white sheep, On a blue hill, When the wind stops You all stand still When the wind blows You walk... Read more »- Debra wrote asking for help with a Yiddish rhyme: The following has been passed down through the ages (at least 150 years) by my mothers family, though we can only guess what the words mean now or the correct spelling of the words. I am hoping you may recognize it or be able to decipher it... Read more »
- Jeff wrote asking for help with a Yiddish song. Here’s his email: Hi, I grew up reciting a Yiddish rhyme or song where we pinched the skin on the back of each others hands and bobbed them up and down while saying something like (and I’m just writing what it sounded like): "Sipicle sipicle amadal, kimsimir and kamadal,... Read more »
Reduplications are words or phrases that contain a duplicated element. An example is the phrase "riffraff". The two parts of the word are almost the same (i.e. "riff" and "raff"), but they have a small change (the vowels). When you have a rhyming reduplication, the duplicated element rhymes with the original element in the phrase. ... Read more »- Rachel wrote looking for help with an Italian song: My Italian grandmother used to sing to me a song that went something like. Peter peter pastela. canavane canela canela cususi felule mascule di... Read more »
Jeff Gilpin sent this lullaby with the following note, "Here is a song I wrote after visiting my wife’s sister in Ayase which is outside of Tokyo, Japan. I think it is very kid friendly and I hope you like it add it to your list of children songs. It is called Ayase Lullaby. Here... Read more »- Peter wrote asking for help with a song his grandmother sang him. Here’s his email: Hello, I was hoping you’d be able to help with a song my grandmother sang to us when we were kids. It seems nobody can remember the whole thing but it starts like this: "There was a young man who lived on... Read more »
- Kim wrote asking for help with a Russian song. Here’s her email: I believe this is a Russian folk song I learned at school many years ago. I am unable to remember the last verse, but I do remember the tune. I would appreciate any help to fill in the blanks I believe it ends with,... Read more »
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