Recipe for Papitas de leche – Venezuelan Holiday Dessert for Kids

Papitas de lecheis a dessert that's made for children's birthday parties in Venezuela. They're also made for various holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and events like weddings, christenings and 1st Communions. They're mainly made for children although adults in Venezuela also enjoy [...]

The Game of Five Stones or Knucklebones around the World

The game ofFive Stones is also known as Knucklebones. It's atime-honored game that was played in ancient Greece, Rome and even earlier. Nowadays, in the US it's played with jacks. In some parts of the world it's played with 5 flat stones or pebbles. In other places, it's played with the ankle or [...]

Quince – Sweet Fifteen

The fifteenth birthday is very important for girls in many Latin American countries and in some Hispanic communities in the US.  It's called Quince or Quinceaera (15 years).  It marks a girl becoming an adult.  It's a bit like the Jewish Bar Mitzvah, a Sweet 16 Party and a [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Papiamento Children's Song?

Betzy wrote from Venezuela: Hi! I write you from Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela, to ask if anybody would know the song in Papiamento that goes somewhat like “mama dame un cent pa mi bay”... my mommy would sing it to the children. Now she passed away. We have a new baby in the [...]

Jeringonza – A Spanish Word Game Like Pig Latin, with Portuguese and Italian Versions

Jeringonza (aka jerigonza) is played in Spain and throughout Latin America. It's also found in Portuguese speaking Brazil and even in Italy. It's a secret language for kids – just like the English word game Pig Latin. (I'm going to make all the changes to the words in bold below to help [...]

Only a Mother's Love – A Spanish Poem with an MP3 Recording

It's May, the month for Mothers Day around the world! Here's a Spanish poem called “Slo el Amor de Una Madre”. You'll find it below in the original Spanish, with an English translation and an MP3 recording of it being recited in Spanish... Slo el Amor de Una Madre Slo el amor de una [...]

De colores – All the Colors – Spanish Song about Springtime

I was inspired to post De colores now because of a drawing my daughter created the other day – it made me think of All the Colors! The song is a celebration of the colors of Spring! This song is originally from Spain. The first translation below was done to fit the tune, so you

The [...]

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 [...]