Can Someone Help with a Ukranian Kids Song?

Paula wrote to me: My grandmother used to sing me a Ukrainian Childrens song about a train. It went something like this…. Trena, Trena, Zoita Kia mena, ona, douca, Toot, Toot, Toot If you know the song I'm refering to, please send me the words in English or Ukrainian please send them to me. Thanks Paula Zronik I [...]

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 a Ukrainian Rhyme That Sounds Like, “Pitchoo Pitchoo Bopkoo”?

Suzy wrote… I wonder if anyone can help me find the meaning to this silly rhyme. I was a little kid when my grandmother used to do this thing with my head in her hands and it phonetically sounded like this (I don't speak or understand Ukrainian) : Pitchoo Pitchoo bopkoo Sedjoonella bobkoo shi shoolapitch, shi shoolapitch, shi [...]

The Ancient Ukrainian Tradition of Pysanka

In ancient Ukrainian culture, eggs were decorated in a style called Pysanka (plural ‘Pysanky'), using wax and dye. Back in Pagan times, Pysanky where thought to protect people and were placed in homes for that purpose. They were also placed in caskets to capture evil spirits. The artwork on the Pysanky has no definitive visible [...]

Elaborately Decorated Eggs for Easter In Eastern Europe

Guest Blogger, Ed Gawlinski, has been involved in many cultural organizations throughout his life. Here, he discusses Easter traditions in several Eastern European cultures. A common custom is to color hard boiled eggs for Easter. We usually colored them on Good Friday, while eating hot cross buns… Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns, one ha' penny, two [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Ukrainian or Russian Song about a Butterfly?

My friend Marijka, whose family is from Ukraine, is looking for the full words to a childrens song that her grandmother used to sing to her when she was young. It's about a butterfly. She's not sure if it's originally Ukrainian or Russian. Marijka recorded for me the part she knows. [...]

Can Someone Help with a Russian or Ukrainian Song?

I recently received this email: My mom who was an orphan remembers her dad (from the Ukraine) singing a song that sounds like “estonya monya ti la zuka; estonya monya lo bi…” can anyone relate? If anyone can help with this song, please comment below, or email me. Thanks! Lisa Share on Facebook and other services:

The French Song “Ivan, Boris et moi” is in a Ukrainian Commercial

Stanislav wrote to me looking for a French song that's in a Ukrainian commercial: Hello, I stumbled upon your website while looking for one song. Although my request might sound a little strange, I thought I'd write you and ask anyway. I live in Ukraine and there is a TV commercial here with a French song in [...]

How to Find Sheet Music, Tunes and MP3's on Mama Lisa's World

In addition to this blog, I also host Mama Lisa's World. Mama Lisa's World is a large collection of children's songs and rhymes from countries all around the globe. Matt, a music teacher from Rhode Island, wrote a question to me, the other day, about Mama Lisa's World: Hey Mama, I love the concept of your site. [...]

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 order to make [...]