Jeringonza – A Spanish Word Game Like Pig Latin, with Portuguese and Italian Versions
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Posts
Jeringonza – A Spanish Word Game Like Pig Latin, with Portuguese and Italian Versions
Thursday, November 5th, 2009Jeringonza 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 you learn how to create the secret languages.)
In Pig Latin, you create a secret language – that adults don’t understand unless they played the games themselves. You do it by taking the first letter off the beginning of each word and add it to the end of the word. Then put “ay” after that. So, the word “tomorrow” becomes “omorrow-tay“. If the first two letters of the word are two consonants making one sound, (like “st”, “sp”, “tr”, etc.) both letters get moved to the end of the word. Thus, “star” becomes “ar-stay“.
There are different ways to play Jeringonza depending on the country. The most common way is to add a “P” after each vowel in a word, and then after the “P” you repeat the vowel again. So “Chile” would become “Chi-pi-le-pe“.
In Puerto Rico, you add “chi” before each syllable of the word. So the word “gato” (cat) becomes chi-ga-chi-to. Say it out loud. It’s very rhythmic!
In Brazil, the game is called Língua do Pê (P language). It’s rules are like the “P” rules for Spanish above – you add a “P” after each vowel in a word, and then after the “P” you repeat the vowel again. So “carro” (car) becomes “car-pa-ro-po“.
In Italy, the game is called Alfabeto Farfallino (Farfallino Alphabet) – because you add “F” to words making them sound like the word “farfallino”. Actually, the rules are again like the “P” rules for Spanish above – but with an “F” instead: The most common way is to add a “F” after each vowel in a word, and then after the “F” you repeat the vowel again. So, “luna” becomes “lu-fu-na-fa“.
Have fun having secret conversations!
Please, feel free to share your word games with us in the comments below.
Cheers!
Mama Lisa
Can Someone Help with an Italian Kids Song Called “Quand ero piccolino”?
Thursday, July 16th, 2009I recently received this email below:
I would like to find the words to a children’s song called “Quand ero piccolino”. A couple of the lines are:
Chi, chi qui belle wa, wa, wa
chi, chi qui belle wa, wa, wa
chi, chi qui belle wa, wa, wa
a ventren drai, a ventren drai
qui belle divertimento
a ventren drai, a ventren drai
sa liva su la donI am trying to remember the words as I remember them from sound so the words may not be spelled correctly at all.
If you might be able to give me a site or the correct words I would certainly appreciate that. Thanks.
A. Wiebenga
If anyone can help with this song, please let us know in the comments below. Thanks!
Mama Lisa
Chenodia – Mother Goose in Dead Languages
Sunday, May 10th, 2009Chenodia, The Classic Mother Goose (1871) by John Bigelow was just released online. It appears to be the traditional English nursery rhymes translated into Latin and Ancient Greek.
If anyone knows anything else about this text, please let us know in the comments below.
Mama Lisa
Some Proverbs about Earth for Earth Day
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009Here are some proverbs for Earth Day…
Old Proverbs:
-The Earth produces all things and receives all again.
-Earth is the Best Shelter
-What the heaven showers down, the Earth drinks up. (Greek Proverb)This one is not about the Earth, but it involves the Earth.
-Six feet of earth make all men of one size. (Italian – Sei pie di terra agguaglion tutti.)
Here’s a line from Tennyson, The Day Dream (L’ Envoi.):
We are Ancients of the earth,
And in the morning of the times.Happy Earth Day!
Mama Lisa
PS Feel free to add any poems or proverbs about Earth in the comments below.
Can Anyone Help with an Italian Song that Starts, “Cinque e cinquanta” to the tune of “Giro Giro Tondo”?
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Nicholas emailed me asking for help with an Italian song…
My grandmother used to sing me a song, and I learned it but don’t know the correct words. It goes to the melody of Giro Giro Tondo. When I first heard Giro Giro Tondo, I thought perhaps it was another verse to my grandmother’s song which, as I remember it, (and not knowing if the words even make sense) goes:
Cinque e cinquanta,
Michallina canta,
La se la canta,
Case vuole marita.If anyone knows if this is part of a larger nursery rhyme or song, please let me know.
Nicholas G. Licata
If anyone can also help Nicholas with the words to his song and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.
Thanks in advance!
Mama Lisa
Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009We’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 Music…
Click on the icon below to access the group. If you have a Facebook account already, you just need to click on “Join the Group” to join. If you’re not a member, you simply have to sign up for free to become a member and then you can join the Mama Lisa Group…
Looking forward to seeing you in Facebook!
Mama Lisa
Does Anyone Know an Italian Nursery Rhyme about Sheep or Lambs Playing around a Well?
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009Grace wrote to me asking for help with a childhood rhyme…
Hi Lisa,
My name is Grace, and when I was little, my Nana used to recite me a nursery rhyme in Italian. I think it was about sheep or lambs that were playing around a well.
When she would recite it to me, she would circle my palm with her finger and then wiggle my fingers one by one. I have been searching the internet for what seems like forever and I can’t find anything about this, and it’s leading me to believe that perhaps she had made it up just for me. However, she has Alzheimer’s so she hasn’t been able to help me, and members of my family remember her doing this but they don’t remember the words, only what it was about. Thank you so much for your time, and I hope that perhaps you’ll be able to provide me with an answer.
Again, thank you!
GraceIf anyone can help Grace with any info about this rhyme, please let us know in the comments below.
Thanks in advance…
Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with a Spanish or Italian Song Called “Bella Mama”?
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009Tiffany wrote:
Hi Lisa,
I found your website on Google. What a treasure! I was trying to search for a song I’d heard of (I’m guessing in Spanish) called “Bella Mama”. My Google search led me to your website, but I can’t figure out how to search for a specific song. Might you be able to direct me?
Thanks
Tiffany in Austin, TXI’m not familiar with “Bella Mama”, if anyone else is familiar with this song, please help Tiffany out in the comments below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
Italian New Year’s Eve Tradition of Wearing Red Underpants for Good Luck
Sunday, December 28th, 2008Eating lentils and sausages, and wearing red underwear are all good luck in Italy on New Year’s Eve.
I discovered the tradition of the lucky red underpants when Vita wrote to me. Here’s what she said:
…my grandmother in Naples, Italy used to tell us that wearing red underpants on New Years Eve brought good luck – I don’t know if she told us this because it was funny to little kids or because it is actually a custom.
I’ve been reading about it and have discovered that wearing red underwear for New Year’s Eve does indeed seem to be the tradition in Italy. It’s better if they’re given to you as a gift, and if they’re brand-new this year.
They also eat lentils in Italy for good monetary fortune in the upcoming year. Lentils with zampone o cotechino (sausages) is the most popular dish that’s served. Pork is an auspicious sign for the New Year and it’s part of the meal.
If you’re interested in learning about other New Year’s traditions, you can read about Symbolic Foods Eaten Around the World for New Years. Feel free to share your traditions with us in the comments below.
Buon anno! Happy New Year!
Mama Lisa
Does anyone know if the words to “Bella che dormi” in Italian are correct?
Sunday, December 28th, 2008Vita wrote:
Hi, I remember a song sung to me by my mother and I just want to make sure I have the words correct and have all the verses. It’s a lullaby and she used to rock us while singing it:
Bella che dormi
sul letto di fiori
mentre dormendo
un bacio d’amor
un bacio in fretta
la povera bambina
o poverina
dove sei andata
dalla nonnina
e cosa ta datto
un bacio un bacio la povera bambina!Beautiful girl sleeping
on a bed of flowers
while sleeping
a loving kiss
a quick kiss
the beautiful girl
o little one (literally poor one)
where did you go?
to grandmother’s
and what did she give you?
a kiss, a kiss
the little one (literally poor one)!Does anyone know any “fingerplays” in Italian – songs with accompanying actions?
Also, my grandmother in Naples, Italy used to tell us that wearing red underpants on New Years Eve brought good luck – I don’t know if she told us this because it was funny to little kids or because it is actually a custom.
Thank you!
VitaIf anyone can help Vita with the song or if you know about the New Year’s custom of wearing red underwear on New Years Eve for good luck, please let us know about it in the comments below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
Question about an Italian Song about Weaving
Saturday, December 27th, 2008Catherine wrote asking about an Italian song:
Ciao Buongiorno! Actually, I’m Greek so I’ll say Tikanis!
I was wondering if you can help me find the title of a song I heard in a commercial from concerned childrens advertisers. It shows a little boy being chased after by 3 little girls trying to kiss him. I know the song in the commercial is in Italian. I’m sorry for my bad spelling but I don’t know how this would be spelt in Italian but it sounds like the words to the song are Loulo filaccio tris dias a cacho fila fila macavo pintar. At least that’s what it sounds like to me.
Does it sound like something you’ve heard before?
If you visit this website http://www.cca-kids.ca/psas/active_living.html, scroll to the bottom, click on the one that says “The Chase”. You’ll see and hear the commercial.
If you know the song title. Please email me back. I would be so appreciative.
Kind regards,
Catherine
I asked Monique at Mama Lisa’s World en français if she could help with this song. Here’s what she wrote:
The song must be “Lungo filaccio, triste sartaccio”, but I couldn’t find anything about it on the internet. This is a proverb. Both words “filaccio” and “sartaccio” end in “accio” which is a pejorative augmentative case (indicating that it’s undesirable). It means long bad thread, sad (in the sense of bad) taylor. In French we have such a proverb that goes “longue aiguillée, mauvais ouvrier” which means that a good taylor /dressmaker knows that if you take too long a thread to sew, it’ll twist and make knots and you won’t often have any better solution than to cut the thread. In Italian, as in French and Occitan, the verb “filare”/”filer”/”filar” means to weave but also to run away. So there’s probably a play on words because of the two meanings of the verb if you consider it in the song and the video. The song is about weaving (or sewing?), it goes:
“Lungo filaccio,
triste sartaccio,
fila fila ma che vuoi filar…?
è duro ma non puoi filar…
ho filato giorno e notte..
giacchetti, pantaloni…
gonellone. pura seta…”English Translation:
Long bad thread,
Sad bad taylor, weave, weave
But what would you weave…
It’s hard but I can’t weave…
I’ve woven day and night…
Jackets, trousers…
Long skirts… pure silk…”That’s all that I could catch.
Thanks for your help Monique! If anyone can help with the rest of this song, please let us know about it in the comments below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
The Echo Song with a YouTube Video
Monday, November 24th, 2008Orlando di Lasso (1530 or 32 – 1594) was a Flemish Renaissance composer. He wrote over 2000 pieces in his lifetime. They were religious and secular choral works in Italian, German, Latin and French.
Some of Lasso’s works were masses that he dedicated to the pope. Interestingly, he also wrote some drinking songs, and plain ole humorous songs. I would say The Echo Song fits into the humorous category. What’s funny is that when you hear choral music, you expect it to be serious in nature. I find The Echo Song to be a surprising exception to this idea.
Enjoy David Solomons rendition of the song in the YouTube video below. After the video I posted the lyrics, though they’re in David’s video. I also posted his English translation of the song. After that you’ll find another rendition of the song by a full choir (the video is black but you can hear the song). It’s interesting to compare renditions.
O La, O Che Bon Eccho!
(Italian Lyrics)O la, o che buon echo!
Pigliamo ci, piacere!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ridiamo tutti!
O buon compagno!
Che vuoi tu?
Vorria che tu cantassi una canzona.
Perchè? Perchè si?
Perchè no?
Perchè non voglio.
Perchè non vuoi?
Perchè non mi piace!
Taci dico!
Taci tu! O gran poltron!
Signor, si!
Orsu non più!
Andiamo!
Addio buon echo!
Addio buon echo!
Rest’ in pace!
Basta!
Basta!
Basta!
Basta!Here’s the English translation:
The Echo Song
(English)My word! Oh, what a lovely echo!
Let’s try it out.
Pleased to meet you!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Let’s all laugh!
Oh my fine companion?
What do you want?
I’d like you to sing a song.
Why? Why should I?
Why not?
‘Cos I don’t want to.
Why don’t you want to?
‘Cos I don’t fancy it.
Shut up, I say!
You shut up, you big fool!
Yes, Sir!
Come now, no more!
Let’s go!
Goodbye lovely echo!
Goodbye lovely echo!
Peace be with you.
That’s enough!
That’s enough!
That’s enough!
That’s enough!Score of O La, O Che Bon Eccho!
Many thanks to David Solomons for bringing his wonderful Youtube video and The Echo Song to my attention!
Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with an Italian Song about a Little Flea?
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008Henry wrote:
Hello Lisa:
When I was young, my Italian Grandma used to sing a song about a little flea. The lyrics were… uno, due, tres, quatro, cinque, seis, un saltina sola sullo… something.
It was about the flea jumping on the dog and saying excuse me, etc… Do you know it?
Henry
If anyone knows the lyrics to this song, please let us know about them in the comments below.
Thanks!
Lisa
Can Anyone Help with Info about the Italian Version of The Story of the Man in The Moon?
Monday, November 3rd, 2008Debra wrote:
Hello Mama Lisa:
I just found your wonderful website and am hopeful someone there can help me find the following information…. I have been trying to research this question now for almost three years!
The Story of the Man in The Moon – the Italian version… the character’s name is pronounced something like (AIR-IT-TEY), not sure of the spelling… phonetically something like… Erite, Aeritei, Eretei?
I would love any help you and/or your readers could be in solving this mystery for me…
Thanks, Debra
If anyone can help Debra with the Italian name of the Man in the Moon and/or any other info, please let us know in the comments below. I think it would be fascinating to learn what the Italian legend of the Man on the Moon is all about.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with an Italian Song That’s Similar to “This Little Piggy”?
Monday, September 22nd, 2008Susan wrote that she’s looking for the Italian version of “This Little Piggy”, with “Giovanni” instead of the “piggy”. Here’s what she emailed me…
Hi,
I just came across your site and first I have to say it’s absolutely wonderful! I wanted to know if you’d be able to help me. I am looking for a song in Italian, the sound was similar to that of this little piggy went to the market etc. (the American rhyme). My father used to sing the song while doing the same thing you would for the American version on our toes. I don’t remember anything about a pig, but it started with Giovanni. I know my information is quite limited and reaching out to you is a stretch but I’ve searched all over the Internet and cannot find anything.
Thank you,
SusanIf anyone can help out Susan, please let us know in the comments below. She’d be most grateful!
Thanks!
Lisa
Do Italians from Italy Cook Onions and Garlic Together in the Same Pot?
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008I was just watching a cooking video of Mark Bittman from the New York Times. He mentioned how he was cooking once with an Italian who told him that they don’t cook garlic and onions together in the same pan in Italy. This surprised him. This surprised me!
I grew up cooking garlic and onions together as the first step in my Italian tomato sauce. This was how my Italian grandmother taught it to my mother. It’s how my mother taught it to me. I assume it’s how my grandmother’s mother from Italy taught her to make it. Any Italians from Italy like to let us know if they cook onions and garlic together in the same pot? Feel free to comment below.
Btw Bittman seemed reluctant to believe it and so am I!
-Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Recommend any Italian Children’s Music CD or DVD?
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008Michelle wrote:
Thank you for your great website.
Can you tell me if there is a website where I can purchase CD’s of Italian Music for children and/or DVD’s?
Thank you
Michelle DeFazioThere are some CD’s on Amazon that you can buy. Here are a couple I found that got good reviews. You can hear musical clips for some of them. The first two have mp3’s you can pay to download directly from the site:
Canzoni Per Bambini, Volume I – CD
Canzoni Per Bambini Vol.II, Italian Songs for Children – CD
Teach Me Italian (Paperback and Audio CD): A Musical Journey Through the DayHere are two for adults – the first one includes That’s Amore by Dean Martin and Volare by Dominico Mudugno:
Eh, Paisano! 100% Italian-American Classics
Viva Italia! Festive Italian ClassicsIf anyone knows of any other cd’s or dvd’s or places where you can buy them, please let us know about it in the comments below.
-Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with Some Italian Nursery Rhymes and Songs?
Thursday, January 10th, 2008I get a lot of requests for help with Italian rhymes and songs. It seemed like a good idea to post a few together as the writers may even be able to help each other! Most of these are from the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Italian immigrants to the United States who remember being sung these by their parents, grandparents and great grandparents. These are special memories!
The Italian is mainly written phonetically below. Here are some of the emails I’ve received…
1) Hi Lisa,
My mother and my grandmother used to say a nursery rhyme to me when I was a little girl. They would put me on their lap, facing them like I was riding on a galloping horse. The rhyme is: (Keep in mind my spelling is all wrong)
Ki Ki Ki cavallo,
la mama vien al ballo,
da scarpieta sienna….And it goes on. My mother and grandmother were from Trieste, so it could be in dialect. I’d just like to figure out the words and meaning of the rhyme to teach my granddaughter. Hope you can help me.
Many thanks,
Sue Henry
2) My great grandmother was from the Abruzzi Region and used to sing us a song that started out (phonetically):
Di say comati….
I don’t remember any of the other words but know that she used to rock us on her lap during the song and then at the end would say ‘di di di di deeeee’ lean over so we would fall back and up-side-down.
I realize that I’m not giving you much to work with! Any help would be appreciated.
3) My mother used to sing an Italian nursery song to my girls when they were young, but now my mother has Alzheimer’s and can’t remember the words to teach my daughter so she can teach them to her girls. It was “mane mane manutsa vene papa, boite gozi sini va….” something to that effect, general meaning: clap hands clap hands, daddy’s coming home and bringing presents…” something like that.
It’s all my daughter has of her grandma to pass on. Please help if you can. My grandmother was from Palermo and very poor, so the words and the dialect would be home Italian versus book Italian.
Thank you.
Nan Juday4) I would like to know if anyone knows of a song my grandmother used to sing to me. I can only remember it as the Tick Tock Song. One line sounded like:
“Quando se qiere peccina bambina,
mia cuore tica tic, tica toc.”Mind you, I have no idea if these are the actual words or if they are spelled right! I think it meant “when you need me my pretty baby, my heart goes tick tock. Thanks for your help.
Carmen Akridge
5) Hi
I came across your site while searching for a song my nonna used to sing to me when I was little. She died in 1971 when I was six. I would lay across her lap and she would tap her fingers on my back and sing something like this:
Lena lena
sopa sopa
cuanta pena tena ungoupe
en e mene mah cuanta suThere are sections missing. It was a guessing song. How many fingers do I have on your back… kind of thing. It was such a special memory for me. I wish I could find an accurate version. She was 84 when she died. She emigrated to the US in 1907.
Lisa Sebelle
6) Hello Mama Lisa. I wander if you could help me find this song… do you know who wrote it? or who sang it?
Sorridi alla tua mamma,
amore… sorridi a che te adato il cuor…
nina nanaIt’s a very old song that my mother used to sing to me….
Thank you
Marisa7) Hi,
I have just come across your website and was wondering if you could help me?
I am after an old Italian story that my father and grandfather used to tell us when we were little. I can only remember bits and pieces. Below is some of it in English……
Once upon time there was an old man who swept the church, he found some money…….bought some milk but the mouse drank it and the old man pulled off his tail…the mouse said, give me back my tail and the man said give me back my milk…….
Hope you can help me.
Thanks
Anna8) I came across your website when trying to look for a song my grandma used to sing and hoped maybe you could help or could post this and maybe someone else would know. It’s an Italian children’s song along the same idea as “this little piggy went to market”, but it talks about a duck and as you pull each finger it says this one catches it, this one cooks it, this one eats it and so on. I can only describe the Italian as it sounds from my memory and I’m not sure of the actual spelling so if anyone could help, it would be greatly appreciated. This is how I would sound it out in my head, but I would really like to know how it really goes.
Rina sta fundanelle
Ghista na ba ba della
Ghistan gop
Ghista schpen
Ghista sta goscha
Ghista sa manga
Chista digz
Bi bi bi bi nu boga min
Bi bi bi bi nu boga minThanks,
Dorothy9) I have been looking for Manzoline de Fiore and can’t find it. Any help = my mother used to sing this song all the time when we were little.
Rose Montagner Bundra
10) Hi, Mama Lisa,
Do you know of an Italian Lullaby song with the words:
“Bolla, bolla,
pane e cipolla.
Cipolla cucinare;
(name) e sudare…”Literally: “Dance, dance,
bread and onion.
Onion is cooking
and the cook is sweating!My father-in-law sang it to all our children and we just want to know more information about it. Thanks!
AnnMarie
If anyone can help out with any of these questions, please comment below. Give the number of the question you’re addressing so it’s clear which is being answered.
Thanks in advance!
-Mama Lisa
Symbolic Foods Eaten Around the World for New Years
Saturday, December 29th, 2007In many parts of the world, the foods eaten on New Years Eve and New Years Day have important symbolic meanings. These symbols seem to fall into several major categories.
The first class symbolizes financial prosperity. This type of food is round like coins. Often, the dish will be round beans, like lentils, that will expand when it cooks, symbolizing expanding fortunes. Another financial symbol is food with big green leaves, representing paper money. The green may also be for growth. Foods like this are cabbage, collard greens and kale. Golden colored foods are also good for financial rewards in the New Year.
The second type of New Years food symbol represents the hope of having food on the table throughout the year. Pork is one important symbol of eating well year round. It’s also a sign of prosperity. In the olden times, if your family had a pig, you were doing well!
In some countries, actually having food on your table and/or plates at the stroke of midnight is a sign that you’ll have food throughout the year.
A third symbol involves eating sweet food in order to have a sweet year. In some countries people bake a coin in a sweet cake and the person who gets the coin will have good luck throughout the year. In Spain, Portugal, and parts of South and Central America, 12 sweet grapes, one for each month of the year, are eaten at midnight. The hope is to eat 12 sweet grapes to have 12 sweet months!
Fish is thought to symbolize good luck in many countries.
Another symbol for good luck involves eating food in a ring shape – like doughnuts or ring shaped cakes. This represents coming full circle to successfully complete the year – that’s good luck.
In Japan, long Buckwheat Soba noodles symbolize long life. Just don’t break them while you’re eating them!
Here’s a list of some symbolic food types and the places where they’re eaten for the New Year. Feel free to let us know what’s eaten for New Years in your country, in the comments below.
Round Food (Like Coins for Monetary Luck)
Italy, Brazil & Germany (Lentils)
Germany (Pancakes)
Philippines (Round Fruit)
Southern US (Black-eyed Peas)Green Leafy Vegetables (Like Paper Money for Monetary Luck)
Southern USA (Collard Greens & Turnips)
Denmark (Kale)
Germany (Sauerkraut)Golden Food (Like Gold for Monetary Luck)
Southern USA (Corn Bread)
Pig (Symbol of Plentiful Food in the New Year)
Hungary (Roast suckling pig with a 4 leaf clover in its mouth)
Italy (Cotechino con lenticchie – pork sausage with lentils)
Germany (Kassler mit Sauerkraut – financial luck)
Pennsylvania Dutch (USA – Pork with Sauerkraut)
Austria
ChinaFood on the Table or Plate at Midnight (Symbol of Plentiful Food in the New Year)
Germany
PhilippinesSweets (Symbolic of a Sweet Year or Good Luck)
Hungary (Doughnuts)
Greece (Round cake called Vasilopita – made with a coin baked inside – whoever gets the coin is lucky throughout the year)
Israel (Jewish New Year – Apple dipped in honey & grapes)
India
Egypt (Candy for kids)
Korea (Sweet Fruits)
Norway (Rice Pudding with an almond inside – good luck to the one who gets the almond)12 Grapes at Midnight (Symbolizing 12 Sweet Months)
Spain
Portugal
Mexico
Cuba
Ecuador
PeruRing Shaped Food (Good Luck)
Mexico (Rosca de Reyes – Luck)
Netherlands (Olie Bollen – Doughnut)Fish (Symbol of Good Luck)
Germany (Herring & Carp)
Poland (Pickled Herring)
Denmark (Boiled Cod)
Italy (Dried Salted Cod)
Japan (Red Snapper – Pink is a lucky color)
Vietnam (Carp)
China
Sweden (Seafood Salad)A Happy, Lucky and Prosperous New Year to All of You!
Mama Lisa
Many thanks to Ed Gawlinski for pointing out that they eat lentils in Italy for the New Year, which lead me on this long quest that resulted in this discussion!
Tu scendi dalle stelle (You Come Down from the Stars) – An Italian Christmas Carol with 2 Videos & a Score
Friday, December 21st, 2007Many people grew up hearing this lovely song at Christmastime. I posted it 2 years ago and and was amazed by the amount of people who wrote in saying how much this song touched them. That inspired me to repost it today with two YouTube videos. I thought you might enjoy hearing two very different renditions of this song.
The first version is a lively rendition at a party with about 8 people playing various string instruments and a piano. Below that video you can find the song lyrics to Tu scendi dalle stelle in Italian with an English translation. Below that I put a 2nd video – a choral rendition of the same song. Enjoy!
Tu scendi dalle stelle
(Italian)Tu scendi dalle stelle
O Re del Cielo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato!
Ah, quanto ti costò
L’avermi amato.
Ah, quanto ti costò
L’avermi amato.A te che sei del mondo,
Il creatore,
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.Caro eletto pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà
Più mi innamora,
Giacchè ti fece amor
Povero ancora.
Giacchè ti fece amor
Povero ancora.You Come Down from the Stars
(English Translation)You come down from the stars
Oh King of Heavens,
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.Oh my Divine Baby
I see you trembling here,
Oh Blessed God
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.For you, who are of all the world
The creator,
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord,
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.Dear chosen one, little infant,
This dire poverty,
Makes me love you more.
Since Love made you
Poor now.
Since Love made you
Poor now.Click the following link for The Sheet Music for Tu scendi dalle stelle – it’s free!
Many thanks to Monique Palomares at Mama Lisa’s World en français for the English translation of Tu scendi dalle stelle!
-Mama Lisa
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Copyright ©2009 by Lisa Yannucci. All rights reserved.
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