Čížečku, čížečku
Čížek is a type of finch called the European siskin. Čížečku is the diminutive word for it.
Čížečku, čížečku is a call and response circle game with actions to mime. It's asking the siskin finch how the poppy is sown, grown and eaten.
Čížečku, čížečku
Little Finch, Little Finch
Circle Game
Circle Game
(Czech)
(English)
1. Čížečku, čížečku,
ptáčku maličký,
pověz mi čížečku,
jak sejou mák?
Aj tak, tak sejou mák,
aj tak, tak sejou mák,
aj tak, tak sejou mák,
tak sejou mák.
2. Čížečku, čížečku,
ptáčku maličký,
pověz mi čížečku,
jak roste mák?
Aj tak, tak roste mák,
aj tak, tak roste mák,
aj tak, tak roste mák,
tak roste mák.
3. Čížečku, čížečku,
ptáčku maličký,
pověz mi čížečku,
jak kvete mák?
Aj tak, tak kvete mák,
aj tak, tak kvete mák,
aj tak, tak kvete mák,
tak kvete mák.
4. Čížečku, čížečku,
ptáčku maličký,
pověz mi čížečku,
jak plejou mák?
Aj tak, tak plejou mák,
aj tak, tak plejou mák,
aj tak, tak plejou mák,
tak plejou mák.
5. Čížečku, čížečku,
ptáčku maličký,
pověz mi čížečku,
jak melou mák?
Aj tak, tak melou mák,
aj tak, tak melou mák,
aj tak, tak melou mák,
tak melou mák.
6. Čížečku, čížečku,
ptáčku maličký,
pověz mi čížečku,
jak jedí mák?
Aj tak, tak jedí mák,
aj tak, tak jedí mák,
aj tak, tak jedí mák,
tak jedí mák.
1. Little finch, little finch,
Little bird,
Tell me little finch
How the poppy is sown?
This is how poppies are sown,
and how, how poppies are sown,
and how, how poppies are sown
how poppies are sown.
2. Little finch, little finch,
Little bird,
Tell me little finch
How the poppy is grown?
This is how poppies are grown,
and how, how poppies are grown,
and how, how poppies are grown
how poppies are grown.
3. Little finch, little finch,
Little bird,
Tell me little finch
How the poppy flowers?
This is how poppies flower,
and how, how poppies flower,
and how, how poppies flower
how poppies flower.
4. Little finch, little finch,
Little bird,
Tell me little finch
How the poppy is weeded?
This is how poppies are weeded,
and how, how poppies are weeded,
and how, how poppies are weeded
how poppies are weeded.
5. Little finch, little finch,
Little bird,
Tell me little finch
How the poppy is ground up?
This is how poppies are ground up,
and how, how poppies are ground up,
and how, how poppies are ground up
how poppies are ground up.
6. Little finch, little finch,
Little bird,
Tell me little finch
How the poppy is eaten?
This is how poppies are eaten,
and how, how poppies are eaten,
and how, how poppies are eaten
how poppies are eaten.
Notes
Other possible actions for more verses:
zraje (matures)
sklíz (harvests)
lámou (breaks)
Game Instructions
On each numbered verse, hold hands going around in a circle on the 1st stanza and then on the 2nd stanza stay in place and mime the action as follows:
1. Mime scattering seeds around.
2. Put hands together (pointing up) in front of you and kneel down. Weaving hands left and right while slowly rising like a plant growing. End standing up fully with your hands together, pointing up on top of your head, like a fully grown flower.
3. Repeat the actions of #2. Then at the end rise hands in the air over your head and spread them out wide at your sides like a grown flower.
4. Swirl your hands near the ground like you're weeding and throwing away the weeds.
5. Keep hitting one fist on top of the other fist.
6. Mime eating.
Comments
According to Wikipedia, this song "was performed in the past as an annual custom supposed to enhance the yield of poppy."
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translation by Lisa Yannucci.
Photo of the bird by Sławek Staszczuk (photos [AT] hotmail.co.uk), CC BY-SA 3.0.
Photo of Poppies: Monique Palomares
