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My Tweets
Archive for January, 2006
Contents
Posts
Candlemas and Crêpes… a Recipe and a Song
Tuesday, January 31st, 2006In yesterday’s blog entry, I talked about the importance of crêpes for Candlemas (Groundhog Day in the U.S.) I also gave the lyrics to a French song about Candlemas.
Here’s another song from France about eating crêpes, in French, with an English translation, and a midi. After that you’ll find a recipe for making basic crêpes, with a couple of suggestions about what to fill them with.
A Midi of Quand on fait des crêp’s chez nous – When We Make Crêpes at Our House
Quand on fait des crêp’s chez nous
Quand on fait des crêp’s chez nous, ma mèr’ vous invite
Quand on fait des crêp’s chez nous, ell’ vous invite tous
Un’ pour toi, un’ pour moi, un’ pour mon p’tit frèr’ François
Un’ pour toi, un’ pour moi, un’ pour tous les trois.When We Make Crêpes at Our House
When we make crêpes at our house, my mom invites you
When we make crêpes at our house, she invites you all
One for you, one for me, one for my little brother Francois
One for you, one for me, one for all three of us.Here’s a basic recipe for crêpes…
Basic Crêpe Recipe (makes about 8 crepes)
1 c. Flour*
2 Eggs
1 ¼ c. Milk
2 T. Butter, Melted (unsalted butter can be used for dessert crêpes)
¼ t. Salt for dinner crêpes (only a pinch of salt for dessert crêpes)
1 T. Sugar (for dessert crêpes only)
Butter or oil for cooking*For Buckwheat crêpes use ½ c. flour and ½ c. buckwheat flour instead of 1 c. flour
You can either mix all ingredients in a blender, food processor or with a whisk till smooth. It’s best to let the batter sit for ½ hour before cooking. You can add a little more milk or a little water if you find the batter is too thick.
Use a skillet that’s about 6 – 8″ in diameter. (I used an 8″ pan and got 8 fairly large crêpes.) Put about ½ to 1 teaspoon of butter in the bottom of the pan, enough to coat it. Melt on medium high heat.
Pour in about 2-3 T. batter and tilt or gently swirl the pan so that the batter covers the whole bottom of the skillet. Cook on one side until golden brown. Flip. Cook the other side till it starts to become golden, which should happen quickly, and remove from heat. Repeat this process until you’ve used all the batter.
If you’re going to store the crêpes in the fridge, you can put wax paper between them to keep them from sticking together .
Btw РMost people end up throwing out the first cr̻pe or two the first time they make them.
Here are some different ways to fold the crêpes…
(Always put the better-looking side of the cr̻pe on the outside.)1) Rolled РPut filling on one end of the cr̻pe and roll it up, sort of like a cigar. (You may eat them this way by hand Рusually good with a thin filling.)
2) Folded in Half – Put filling on one side and fold over in half (usually eaten with a fork)
3) Folded in Threes РPut filling in middle of cr̻pe, fold the left third side over and then the right side over. (Usually eaten with a fork.)
4) Folded in Fours – Just like folding in threes, but then also fold over the bottom and top (can be eaten by hand.)
5) Folded as a Triangle РPut filling on half of cr̻pe and fold the cr̻pe over in half, then fold in half again.
6) Layered РPut filling on whole cr̻pe, put another cr̻pe on top Рyou can keep layering as long as you want! This would usually be done with thinner fillings.
7) Folded like a Burrito – Put filling in middle, fold over two opposite ends about 1 inch, and roll over the crêpe starting at the side, till it’s completly rolled up.Here are Some Ideas for Crêpe Fillings:
Savory Crêpes (or Dinner Crêpes)
Ham and Gruyere or Swiss Cheese Cr̻pes РCube ham and fry, place in cr̻pe with shredded cheese and place in warm oven, at 300 F, to melt. This will take about 10-15 minutes. Cover if needed to prevent the cr̻pes from drying out. (A variation is to make this with chopped tomatoes.)
Mushrooms and Swiss Cheese РSautee mushrooms in a little butter. Place in cr̻pe and top with cheese. Fold crepe and place in warm oven, at 300 F, to melt cheese. This will take about 10-15 minutes. Cover if needed to prevent the cr̻pes from drying out. (A variation is to make this with chopped tomatoes.)
Spinach and Goat Cheese РSautee spinach. Spread goat cheese on cr̻pe, top with spinach and fold.
***
Dessert Crêpes (some of these could be good for breakfast too!)
Apple Cinnamon and Walnut Cr̻pes РSautee chopped apples and walnuts in a little butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Scoop mixture onto cr̻pe and fold.
Lemon and Powered Sugar Cr̻pes РSprinkle confectioners sugar on cr̻pe and squeeze a little fresh lemon juice on top. Fold and eat!
Your Favorite Jam Cr̻pes РSimply smear the cr̻pe with jelly, fold over or roll and top with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Nutella and Whipped Cream Cr̻pe РSpread nutella on cr̻pe, top with a dollop of whipped cream and fold up.
Banana and Nutella Cr̻pes РSpread nutella on crepe, and top with thinly sliced bananas. Fold cr̻pe and enjoy!
Sugared Cr̻pes РSprinkle cr̻pe with sugar and fold or roll up. These work well if you want to eat them by hand.
Ice Cream Cr̻pe РPut vanilla ice cream on cr̻pe, some hot chocolate syrup and whipped cream and fold it up.
Hot Fudge and Strawberry Cr̻pes РClean and slice strawberries and place on cr̻pe, cover with hot fudge and a dollop of whip cream. Fold and enjoy!
You can see that your imagination is the only limit when it comes to making crêpes!
Bon Appétit!
Lisa
Many thanks to Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français for sending me the song, the midi, for help with the translation and for some delicious suggestions for crêpe fillings!
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World France page for more French children’s songs with their English translations and…
Mama Lisa’s World en français for children’s songs around the world with their French translations.
Crêpes and Candlemas in France
Monday, January 30th, 2006In France, Candlemas is called the Fête de la Chandeleur or Feast of Candlemas.
Pancakes and crêpes are an important aspect of Candlemas. First, both resemble the sun, which everyone is sorely missing at this exact halfway point of winter. Also, it is said that Pope Gelasius I, who introduced Candlemas into the Catholic Church, often gave crêpes to people who made the pilgrimage to Rome.
The French have many proverbs about eating crêpes on Candlemas. Here are some of them…
(I’m using crêpes and pancakes interchangeably)
Manger des crêpes à la chandeleur
Apporte un an de bonheur.Eat crêpes on Candlemas
And have a year of happiness.***
Il faut faire sauter les crêpes avec une pièce dans la main
Afin de s’assurer prospérité toute l’année.You must flip the crêpes with a coin in your hand
In order to ensure prosperity all year long.***
Celui qui retourne sa crêpe avec adresse,
Qui ne laisse pas tomber à terre,
Celui-là aura du bonheur
Jusqu’Ã la Chandeleur prochaine.Whoever turns over his pancake with skill,
Who doesn’t let it fall to the floor,
That one will have happiness
Until the next Candlemas.***
Here’s a French song for Candlemas, in French and with an English translation…
In French…
La veille de la Chandeleur
La veille de la Chandeleur
L’hiver se passe ou prend rigueur
Si tu sais bien tenir la poêle
A toi l’argent en quantité
Mais gare à la mauvaise étoile
Si tu mets la crêpe à côté.In English…
The day before Candlemas
The day before Candlemas
Winter passes, or gets stronger.
If you know how to hold the frying pan,
To you, lots of money.
But you’ll be under an unlucky star
If the pancake misses the mark.Enjoy your pancakes!
Lisa
***
Many thanks to Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français for pointing out the tradition of eating pancakes in France on Candlemas.Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World France page for more French children’s songs with their English translations and…
Mama Lisa’s World en français for children’s songs around the world with their French translations.
Candlemas and Groundhog Day on February 2nd
Sunday, January 29th, 2006Groundhog Day, the popular American holiday, has it’s roots in the European holiday Candlemas.
Both seem to have developed from an ancient Celtic festival called Imbolc. Imbolc festivities involved lighting fires, in part in honor of Brigid, the Goddess of fertility, love and fire. Imbolc also celebrated the fact that the days would become longer and the sun stronger over the next few months.
Candlemas, Groundhog Day and Imbolc are all celebrated at the mid point between the Winter Solstice and the first day of Spring. They all involve the hope of good weather for the next 6 weeks… the remainder of winter.
I suppose this is why pancakes and crepes are the preferred foods for Candlemas… they’re round and yellow, like the longed for sun.
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s hard to remember how the weather on this day predicts the weather for the rest of the winter, it’s because all of the Candlemas and Groundhog Day sayings are counterintuitive. They say that if the weather is nice on February 2nd the rest of the winter will be colder, more severe. If the weather on the 2nd is crummy, the rest of the winter is supposed to have nice weather.
As for the groundhog, if he sees his shadow, that means it’s a sunny day on February 2nd and the myth is that the rest of the winter will be colder. So we all hope he will not see his shadow and that February 2nd will have miserable weather!
For Christians, Candlemas is the day that candles are blessed in churches. Another symbol of fire! So people put lit candles in their windows in honor of the day.
Lastly, this day is called the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. It was believed that after giving birth women were unclean. They had to be purified 40 days after their child was born. Thus Candlemas is 40 days after Jesus was born, when Mary would have been purified.
Here are some rhymes and proverbs for Candlemas and groundhog day…
If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flightIf on Candlemas Day it be shower and rain,
Winter is gone and will not come again.If Candlemas Day be damp and black,
It will carry cold winter away on its back.If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There’ll be two winters in the year.If the groundhog sees his shadow
We will have six more weeks of Winter.
If he doesn’t see his shadow,
We will have an early Spring.Groundhog Day Half your Hay
(Meaning you’d better have half of your hay left to feed the animals, because you’re only half-way through the winter)
Happy Candlemas and Happy Groundhog Day!
Lisa
Head, Shoulders, Knees and All That
Saturday, January 28th, 2006Devon T is “a children’s English school director and materials developer in Tokyo”. He’s started a blog called Head, Shoulders, Knees and all that which I highly recommend. He writes, with empathy and intelligence, about many aspects of childhood from both educational and scientific perspectives.
I particularly enjoyed his discussion of What Makes Children Laugh.
Check it out!
The ABC’s in French with an MP3
Thursday, January 26th, 2006Here are the ABC’s in French as sung by Monique’s first grade class…
L’alphabet
(in French/en français)A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y et Z
Maintenant je sais mon alphabet,
Chante avec moi la prochaine foisABC Song
(English)A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y and Z
Now I know my ABC’s,
Next time won’t you sing with me!Many thanks to Monique’s class for the wonderful recording of The ABC Song. Merci Beaucoup!
Lisa
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World France Page for more French children’s songs with their English translations and…
Mama Lisa’s World en français for children’s songs around the world with their French translations
and
Mama Lisa’s Blog Entry with the ABC’s in English
Australia Day – January 26th
Thursday, January 26th, 2006Australia Day is the anniversary of when the first group of British settlers, who were actually prisoners due to petty crimes, landed in Australia in 1788.
Britain’s prisons were overcrowded. They had been sending petty criminals to America until the American Revolution, after which they were no longer accepted there. Australia became the new place to send these prisoners. The first group of convicts to be sent to Australia sailed in what’s known as the First Fleet. It consisted of 11 ships filled with 759 convicts and some marine guards. They landed in Port Jackson, Australia, on January 26th, 1788.
January 26th is a public holiday in Australia, when people all around the country celebrate this landmark day.
Happy Australia Day!
Lisa
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Australia Page for Traditional Australian Songs.
The First Recording Ever Was of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” by Thomas Edison
Tuesday, January 24th, 2006Thomas Edison made the first recording of the human voice in 1877. He recited the nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb. He re-recorded it in 1927 for posterity.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.Listen to Thomas Edison reciting Mary Had a Little Lamb, MP3
Why Does the Chinese New Year Move Around?
Monday, January 23rd, 2006By Raymond Lee
Every year, the Chinese New Year comes several days earlier than it did the year before. If you’re wondering why, it’s because the Chinese year is shorter than the western year. Of course, something has to be done or the Chinese New Year will just keep moving up. The Chinese calendar compensates for that by having a leap year every 12 years (I think). And during a leap year, there are actually 13 months. That’s why if you look at the movement of the Chinese New Year from year to year, you will see it come earlier and earlier, and then suddenly, boom, it gets pushed back by almost a month, and the cycle repeats.
Come Visit Mama Lisa’s Chinese New Year Page for more about the Chinese New Year.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World China Page for Kids Songs from China and
The Mama Lisa’s World Taiwan Page for more Chinese Children’s Songs
Greetings and Hand Gestures for the Chinese New Year
Sunday, January 22nd, 2006The Chinese New Year is on January 29th, 2006. It’s the Year of the Dog.
The Chinese New Year is called Sun Lean in Cantonese.
To wish each other a Happy New Year, the Chinese characters are æ?喜發財.
The New Year’s greeting in Cantonese is Kung Hey Fat Choy, which means Congratulations and Be Prosperous. When the New Year’s greeting is said, there is a specific hand gesture. Here’s a picture of the correct hand gesture made for the Chinese New Year.
You shake your hands up and down slightly while making this gesture.
My cousin James, who lives in Shanghai, China, wrote me about what’s said in Mandarin for the Chinese New Year. He said…
Xin nian kuai le means Happy New Year in Mandarin, and is normally said to a young person.
Xin = New
Nian = Year
Kuai le = HappyXin nian jian kang is normally said to an elderly person.
Jian Kang = Good Health
Xin nian hao is normally said to someone you don’t know on the street.
Hao = Good
Gong xi fa cai can also be said for the New Year.
Gong xi = Congratulations
Fa cai = ProsperityXin nian kuai le!
In Vietnam, the New Year is called Tet Nguyen Dan. The Vietnamese New Year’s greeting is Chuc Mung Nam Moi meaning, Happy New Year. (Tet refers to the first morning of the first day of the New Year).
In Korea the New Year is called Sol or Seollal. In Korean they say, Say-hay boke mahn-he pah-du-say-oh, which literally means, Please Receive Many New Year’s Blessings.
Many thanks to Ray Lee for sending me the photo of the correct hand gesture to use for the Chinese New Year, and for help with the Cantonese, and to James Yannucci for help with the Mandarin.
Happy New Year!
Lisa
Come Visit Mama Lisa’s Chinese New Year Page for more about the Chinese New Year.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World China Page for Kids Songs from China and
The Mama Lisa’s World Taiwan Page for more Chinese Children’s Songs
More Traditions of the Chinese New Year
Saturday, January 21st, 2006The Chinese New Year is also know as the Spring Festival and Lunar New Year
The Chinese New Year is usually celebrated on the 2nd new moon after the winter solstice and ends with the full moon 15 days later. This year the Chinese New Year starts on January 29. The year will be 4703.
There are many traditions associated with the Chinese New Year. Here are some of them:
In preparation for the New Year, houses are swept clean to get rid of traces of bad luck. But there is no sweeping on New Year’s Day for fear of sweeping away good luck.
No sharp objects can be used on New Year’s Day. They might cut out the good luck.
To maintain honor, all debts must be paid before the New Year begins.
Red is the color for luck and to ward off evil spirits. Red also symbolizes happiness. People will paint their doors red and decorate the house with red and gold ornaments. Gold is another important color since it symbolizes wealth.
People often wear red for the New Year. Black and white are not usually worn, since they’re considered colors of mourning. (Red is also the traditional color for brides’ gowns in China.)
Sayings of good luck are written on red scrolls or banners and used as decorations. Happiness, prosperity and longevity are primary themes.
Pictures of Door Gods are sometimes hung on the front door to keep out the evil spirits.
Flowers and fruit are symbols of the New Year. Traditional flowers for the Chinese New Year are Plum Blossoms, Narcissus, Azaleas, Peonies, and Water Lilies. Flowers symbolize good health and wealth. It’s particularly good luck if a flower opens its bloom on New Year’s Day. The most important types of fruit for the Chinese New Year are oranges and tangerines, which both symbolize happiness.
The New Year is also a celebration of ancestors – sometimes places will be laid at the table for ancestors on New Year’s Eve.
People have a special meal on New Year’s Eve and will stay up till midnight to welcome in the new year.
At Midnight people light fireworks to ward off evil spirits and welcome back the Kitchen God.
Celebrations can last for 15 days.
At the end of the New Year’s celebration, on the 15th day after the start of the new year, there is a Festival of Lanterns. There’s a parade of children carrying lanterns lit by candles inside which represent the moon.
Come Visit Mama Lisa’s Chinese New Year Page for more about the Chinese New Year.
Happy New Year!
Lisa
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World China page for Kids Songs from China and
The Mama Lisa’s World Taiwan Page for more Chinese Children’s Songs
“Sending off the Kitchen God Day” is on January 23nd
Thursday, January 19th, 2006A week before the Chinese New Year people burn the Kitchen God.
The Kitchen God is called Zao Jun. It is thought that he is sent from Heaven to watch over the family throughout the year. He is also said to have invented fire. He’s present in the kitchen in the form of a picture, or a banner with the Chinese symbol that represents him in gold.
When the Kitchen God is burned it is said that the smoke from the burning paper sends him to heaven. Once there, he reports to the Jade Emperor, who is the highest god in Taoism. He’ll report to the Jade Emperor about the moral behavior of the family, whether good or bad.
Before the family burns the image or symbol of the Kitchen God, they offer him sweets as a bribe to say nice things about them. They also smear his lips with sugar or honey to either sweeten what he says, or to make his lips stick shut so that he won’t say anything at all!
A new Kitchen God is placed in the kitchen on the first day of the New Year.
Happy Sending off the Kitchen God Day!
Lisa
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” with an MP3 Recording
Wednesday, January 18th, 2006Swing Low, Sweet Chariot was created by Sarah Hannah Sheppard around 1847.
Sarah Hannah Sheppard, a slave in the south, sang this lullaby to her daughter Ella.
Around 1855, the woman who was Sarah’s slaveholder tricked 3 year old Ella into spying on Sarah. When Sarah found out, she was so distraught, that she decided to go down to the river to drown her daughter and herself. On the way, she came across an old slave women who told her not to do it. That God had need of the child. Touched by this, Sarah went back home with her daughter.
Ella went on to become one of the Fisk Jubilee Singers at Fisk University. One of the songs they sang was Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, which contributed greatly to the song’s popularity.
MP3 of Swing Low Sweet Chariot as performed by the Southern Four in 1924 and recorded by Thomas Edison.
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
By Sarah Hannah SheppardSwing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.I looked over Jordan, and I what did I see
Coming for to carry me home?
A band of angels coming after me
Coming for to carry me home.Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.If you get there before I do
Coming for to carry me home
Tell all my friends I coming too
Coming for to carry me home.Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.I’m sometimes up, I’m sometimes down
Coming for to carry me home
But still my soul feels heavenly bound
Coming for to carry me home.Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.Sheet Music for Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s Folk Song Page for more Folk Songs from Around the World
The Names of Foods Eaten for the Chinese New Year
Wednesday, January 18th, 2006My entry yesterday about the Chinese New Year focused on Red Packet Money.
Today my friend Ray from Hong Kong wrote me about the foods eaten for the Chinese New Year. He wrote…
- Food for the Chinese New Year… During the New Year, there are certain food items that people eat. These food items are picked because of their names. Chinese people like things that sound nice. For example, when it comes to phone numbers, license plates, and so on, they like to see the number 8 in it, because the pronunciation of the number 8 resembles the pronunciation of the character that means “get wealthy”. So, during the New Year, people eat food items whose names sound good. For example, there is one vegetable whose name sounds like “get wealthy”. Or there’s this cake whose name sounds like “get taller”.
That’s very interesting. Thanks for writing Ray!
Lisa
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World China page for Kids Songs from China and
The Mama Lisa’s World Taiwan Page for more Chinese Children’s Songs
Looking for the Chinese Text to a Rhyme about the Chinese New Year
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006Hayley wrote me inquiring about a Chinese rhyme for the Chinese New Year which is on January 29th…
I have found the rhyme…
Chinese New Year
You’ll find whenever the New Year comes
The Kitchen God will want some plums.
The girls will want some flowers new;
The boys will want firecrackers, too.
A new cap will please papa
And a sugar cake for dear mama.I really need this in Chinese text to show a group of nursery children and wondered if you could please help?
Thank you for your time.
Hayley Dukes
If anyone knows the Chinese text for this, or if you’d like to send any other songs or rhymes for the Chinese New Year, please comment below or email me.
Thanks!
Lisa
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World China page for Kids Songs from China and
The Mama Lisa’s World Taiwan Page for more Chinese Children’s Songs
Traditions of the Chinese New Year – Visiting Relatives and Giving Red Packet Money
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006January 29th is the first day of the Chinese New Year in 2006. This year is the Year of the Dog.
My friend Ray Lee grew up in Hong Kong. I asked him how the Chinese New Year is celebrated. Here’s what he said…
- The New Year is a time for friends and relatives to go visit one another. Not that you’re not allowed to visit your friends and relatives during the year, but at the beginning of the New Year (i.e. New Year’s day and the couple of days that follow) it is especially encouraged.
- Red packet money: It’s money stuffed inside a red envelope, usually with a new-year-related drawing and/or writing in gold on the front. Parents give their kids red packet money on New Year’s day. Uncles and aunts give their nephews and nieces red packet money too.
And remember I said that people visit one another during the New Year? Well, the visitors will give each other’s kids red packet money. For example, if your family goes to visit my brother’s family, my brother and sister-in-law will give your kids red packet money. And you and your husband will give my brother’s two kids red packet money. Red packet money, however, is not limited to kids.
In general, as long as you’re not married and relatively young (maybe up to 30, but don’t quote me on that), you get red packet money. There has been a lot of debate between me and my co-worker Kate about whether or not someone who is divorced is eligible for red packet money. I think as long as you’re single, you’re good. When you get divorced you regain your eligibility. She, on the other hand, insists that once you get married, no matter what happens, you give up your red packet money eligibility for good. I don’t know who is right. Unfortunately, there is no “International Red Packet Money Council” to set the rules.
- While we are still on the topic of red packet money … How much money should you give? Well, it depends on whom you’re giving to. It’s common practice to walk around with several red packets in your pocket, some carrying less money, some carrying more. Then, when you run into someone and have to give their kids red packet money, you make a quick assessment of how close these people are to you, and you decide how much, i.e. which red packets from your pocket, to give them.
I will write more as I think of more Chinese New Year related traditions.
Thanks Ray and have a Happy New Year!
Lisa
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World China page for Kids Songs from China and
The Mama Lisa’s World Taiwan Page for more Chinese Children’s Songs
January 17th, 2006 Marks 300 Years since Ben Franklin was Born
Monday, January 16th, 2006Ben Franklin (1706 – 1790) is an amazingly interesting character! He made tremendous contributions to the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He also invented the lightening rod, bifocals and the wood stove. One of his favorite pastimes was Chess. Here’s what he had to say about it…
The Morals of Chess
The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it, so as to become habits, ready on all occasions. For life is a kind of chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors and adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events that are, in some degree, the effects of prudence of want of it.
By playing at chess then, we may learn:
1) Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action; for it is continually occurring to the player, “if I move this piece, what will be the advantages of my situation? What use can my adversary make of it to annoy me? What other moves can I make to support it, and defend myself from his attacks?
2) Circumspection, which surveys the whole chess board or scene of action, the relations of several pieces and situations, the dangers they are respectively exposed to, the several possibilities of their aiding each other, the probabilities that the adversary may make this or that move and attack this or the other piece; and what different means can be used to avoid his stroke, or turn the consequences against him.
3) Caution, not to make our moves too hastily. This habit is best acquired by observing strictly the laws of the game, such as, if you touch a piece you must move it somewhere; if you set it down you must let it stand. And it is therefore best that these rules be observed, as the game thereby becomes more the image of human life, and particularly of war in which, if you have incautiously put yourself into a bad and dangerous position, you cannot obtain your enemy’s leave to withdraw your troops and place them more securely but you must abide all the consequences of your rashness.
Once kids get old enough, Chess is a great game to play with them. When they’re first learning, spot them a few pieces. That is, begin the game leaving off a queen and a rook on your side. Do your best to beat them with that handicap and you’ll have fun even against the most inexperienced opponent. As they get better, spot them less, maybe just a knight or a bishop. Eventually, they’ll be able to play you even, and that’s a great feeling. Nothing makes a parent prouder than losing a game of Chess to their young child!
January 17th is Franklin’s 300th birthday. Happy Birthday Ben!
Question about an Italian Nursery Rhyme Game
Monday, January 16th, 2006Maria wrote me…
My father was from Volpago, Italy. His mother died when he was quite young. Rso, my Zia became the surrogate mother to the three younger siblings.
I remember her petting the palm of my hand from heel to fingertip and saying these words…
Manina bella
fata panella
dova sen data
date la nona…and she would tickle the palm of my hand and say, Giddie, giddie, giddie!.
I’m sure my spelling is way off but, perhaps you can decipher it. I would so appreciate any help so, I can play with my great grandchildren as Zia did with me.
Thank you so much.
Maria
If anyone is familiar with this rhyme, or can offer any help, please comment below.
If you’re interested in other Nursery Rhymes and Songs from Italy, come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Italy Page.
Thanks!
Lisa
“Velvet Shoes” – A Poem about Walking in the Snow
Sunday, January 15th, 2006The rain turned into snow last night. The land is a beautiful velvety white.
Here’s a poem about the snow by Elinor Wylie…
Velvet Shoes
Let us walk in the white snow
In a soundless space;
With footsteps quiet and slow,
At a tranquil pace,
Under veils of white lace.I shall go shod in silk,
And you in wool,
White as white cow’s milk,
More beautiful
Than the breast of a gull.We shall walk through the still town
In a windless peace;
We shall step upon white down,
Upon silver fleece,
Upon softer than these.We shall walk in velvet shoes:
Wherever we go
Silence will fall like dews
On white silence below.
We shall walk in the snow.If it’s wintry white outside near you, put on your velvet shoes and enjoy a walk in the snow!
Lisa
“One Misty Moisty Morning” – A Nursery Rhyme about Cloudy Weather
Saturday, January 14th, 2006It’s been wet, rainy, and foggy here in the Northeast. Yesterday, Pam wrote me looking for One Misty Moisty Morning. It’s one of my favorites! So I thought I’d share it with you. Here the version I have, that I sent to Pam…
One Misty Moisty Morning
One misty, moisty, morning,
When cloudy was the weather,
There I met an old man
All clothed in leather,
All clothed in leather,
With a cap under his chin.
How do you do?
And how do you do?
And how do you do again?Pam was familiar with a different version of One Misty Moisty Morning. She found it in Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations and sent it to me. Here it is…
One Misty, Moisty Morning
One misty, moisty morning,
When cloudy was the weather,
I chanced to meet an old man
Clothed all in leather:
He began to compliment,
And I began to grin–
“How do you do?” and “How do you do?”
And “How do you do?” again!Many thanks to Pam for reminding me of this delightful rhyme and for sending me the 2nd version!
Come visit Mama Lisa’s House of Nursery Rhymes for more English Nursery Rhymes.
Meanwhile, if it’s wet near you too, I hope you stay dry!
Lisa
“Chipmunk, Chipmunk, Come, Come, Come”
Friday, January 13th, 2006
– A Song in Tamil from India with an MP3 RecordingAnile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa (Chipmunk, Chipmunk, Come, Come, Come) is a song from India, in the Tamil language, which is spoken in the southern part of India. Here is the song in the original Tamil, with an English translation, and an mp3 recording.
MP3 of Anile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa
Anile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa
(Tamil)Anile Anile vaa vaa vaa
Azhagiya Anile vaa vaa vaa
Goiyya maram yeri vaa
Gundu pazham kondu vaaHere’s an English translation of Anile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa…
Chipmunk, Chipmunk, Come, Come, Come
(English)Chipmunk chipmunk come come come
Beautiful chipmunk come come come
Climb high up a guava tree
Bring a ripe fruit back to me.Many thanks to the Kidambi Family for contributing this song, and to Gayatri Sriram, a carnatic singer, for singing it!
Rumba nandri!
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World India page to hear more Songs from India.
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