This is the Mexico Archive Page

  • No categories

Mama Lisa Facebook Badge
Mama Lisa MySpace Badge
Mama Lisa Twitter Badge
  • My Tweets

  • Blog: We Now Have 100 Languages on Mama Lisa’s World! - http://tinyurl.com/yfnm6re Visit
  • Blog: Can Anyone Help with a Czech or Slovak Kids Song? - http://tinyurl.com/ygeku5m Visit
  • Blog: Does Anyone Know a Song with the Line, “The Ship Sailed for the White Cliffs of Dover”? - http://tinyurl.com/yzb8vhm Visit
  • Blog: Can Anyone Help with a Korean Kids Song? - http://tinyurl.com/yjyklqk Visit
  • Check out Frere Jacques - Brother John a cool recording of the Song in French and English all... http://bit.ly/3O3USK Visit
  • Archive for the 'Mexico' Category

    Contents

    Day of the Dead

    A Recording of Don Gato in Spanish with the Lyrics and an English Translation

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

    Spanish Wrangler: Great Music for Exposing Kids to Spanish

    De colores – All the Colors – Spanish Song about Springtime

    Spanish Song – Yo te daré (I Will Give You) with an MP3

    CD’s with Spanish Songs including Los pollitos

    Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group

    Does Anyone Know a Spanish Lullaby about a Bug that Lost its Leg or Wing?

    Online Spanish Songs – Recordings and Spanish Lyrics

    A Spanish Christmas Carol called Ay del chiquirritín – Oh, The Poor, Little Baby Boy

    To Avoid Current Day Food Dyes Would You Eat a Bug?

    A Well-known Spanish Kids Song called “Saw, Saw” with a YouTube Video

    Can Someone Help with a Cuban Bedtime Song?

    The Itsy Bitsy Spider Around the World

    A Nice Version of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in Spanish

    Columbus Day and El Día de la Raza – The Day of Our Races

    Spanish Columbus Day Poem

    Multicultural Songs about the Seasons

    Does Anyone Know of a Script for a Las Posadas Play for Christmastime?

    Posts

    Day of the Dead

    Sunday, November 1st, 2009

    Today and tomorrow, November 1st and 2nd, are the Day of the Dead. It’s celebrated in Mexico. Family and friends get together to remember those who have died. People also make alters to the dead and visit the graves of their loved ones.

    We went to a Mexican restaurant this evening and saw an alter.

    Day of the Dead Alter

    There were skulls on it made of sugar, and favorite foods and drinks of loved ones who have passed away. A woman who works there told me about some of the desserts that were on the alter. One was made of sweet potatoes and another of guava fruit…

    Day of the Dead Desserts

    They gave us a special hot chocolate drink and sweet tamales for dessert, specially for the holiday.

    The lady who works there told us how in small towns in Mexico they decorate their houses with flowers in the doorways and petals strewn about the floor. Marigolds are particularly important. It sounds pretty.

    The day is all about celebrating those loved ones who have passed on. It’s nice to have a day each year specifically for that.

    Check out some other posts about the Day of the Dead…

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    A Recording of Don Gato in Spanish with the Lyrics and an English Translation

    Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

    We recently received a new recording of Don Gato wonderfully sung in Spanish by Élodie Chebat. You can click the mp3 link below to hear it. While listening, you can read the lyrics in Spanish below, followed by an English translation…

    MP3 of El señor don Gato

    El señor don Gato
    (Spanish)

    Estaba el señor Don Gato
    Sentadito en su tejado
    Miarrau miau miau miau
    Sentadito en su tejado.

    Cuando le vinieron nuevas
    Que había de ser casado
    Miarrau miau miau miau
    Que había de ser casado.

    Con una gatita parda
    Con un pinta en el rabo
    Miarrau miau miau miau
    Con un pinta en el rabo.

    El gato de la alegría
    Se ha caído del tejado
    Miarrau miau miau miau
    Se ha caído del tejado.

    Se ha roto siete costillas
    Y la puntita del rabo
    Miarrau miau miau miau
    Y la puntita del rabo.

    Le llevaron a enterrar
    Por la calle del pescado
    miarrau miau miau miau
    Por la calle del pescado.

    Al olor de las sardinas
    Don Gato ha resucitado
    Miarrau miau miau miau
    Don Gato ha resucitado.

    English Translation

    Lord Tom Cat was
    Sitting on his roof,
    Marrameow meow meow meow
    Sitting on his roof.

    He received news
    Saying he had to get married,
    Marrameow meow meow meow
    Saying he had to get married.

    With a grey kitty
    With a spot on her tail,
    Marrameow meow meow meow
    With a spot on her tail.

    From the exuberation, the cat
    Fell down from the roof,
    Marrameow meow meow meow
    Fell down from the roof.

    He broke seven ribs
    And the end of his tail,
    Marrameow meow meow meow
    And the end of his tail.

    He’s taken to be buried,
    Through the fish street,
    Marrameow meow meow meow,
    Through the fish street.

    Smelling some sardines
    Lord Tom Cat resuscitated
    Marrameow meow meow meow
    Lord Tom Cat resuscitated.

    Many thanks to Élodie Chebat for singing Senor Don Gato for us and for contributing this version of the song!

    Check out the Don Gato Song Page for another version of Don Gato in Spanish, with English and French translations, and the sheet music and midi. Check out the Senor Don Gato English version too that’s sung in the US!

    Enjoy!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

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

    Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

    It’s May, the month for Mothers Day around the world! Here’s a Spanish poem called “Sólo 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…

    Sólo el Amor de Una Madre

    Sólo el amor de una Madre apoyará,
    Cuando todo el mundo deja de hacerlo.

    Sólo el amor de una Madre confiará,
    Cuando nadie otro cree.

    Sólo el amor de una Madre perdonará,
    Cuando ninguno otro entenderá.

    Sólo el amor de una Madre honrará,
    No importa en qué pruebas has estado.

    Sólo el amor de una Madre resistirá,
    Por cualquier tiempo de prueba.

    No hay ningún otro amor terrenal,
    Más grande que el de una Madre.

    MP3 Recording of Sólo el Amor de Una Madre by Monique Palomares.

    Here’s the English translation penned by me, Lisa Yannucci, and my colleague, Monique Palomares, who works with me on Mamá Lisa’s World en español… Enjoy!

    Only a Mother’s Love

    Only a mother’s love will sustain,
    When nobody else does.

    Only a mother’s love will trust,
    When nobody else believes.

    Only a mother’s love will forgive,
    When nobody else understands.

    Only a mother’s love will honor,
    Whatever the cause.

    Only a mother’s love will withstand,
    Any test of time.

    There is no other earthly love,
    Greater than that of a mother.

    Many thanks to Monique for helping with the translation and for reciting this poem for us!

    Here are some other posts about Mother’s Day, including other poems:

    Happy Mother’s Day!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Spanish Wrangler: Great Music for Exposing Kids to Spanish

    Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

    The Spanish Wrangler sings really fun music for kids! The songs are mainly in English, but they’re peppered with Spanish words and phrases. Most of the songs tell a story – which children love. What a great way to expose kids to the Spanish language!

    The Wrangler’s music is cool. You feel like you’re sauntering in a Western town. I thought it had a bit of a bluesy feel to it. So I asked the Spanish Wrangler how he would classify his music. He said, “a word I’ve seen used (and sometimes use myself) to describe my stuff is ‘roots-based.’ I think that signals that the songs are blues & country with some folk thrown in…” The folk is where the stories come from.

    Check out the Wrangler singing in the song below (he’s great with the children!). You can see how he teaches Spanish words…

    You can hear the whole song, plus others, on his site at Spanish Wrangler.

    Here’s a link to buy the Spanish Wrangler’s CD’s.

    Thanks to Wil Thomas aka the Spanish Wrangler for sharing his music with us!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    De colores – All the Colors – Spanish Song about Springtime

    Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

    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!

    Rainbow of Colors Drawing

    This song is originally from Spain. The first translation below was done to fit the tune, so you could sing along in English, as well as Spanish. However, I’m including a YouTube video that shows Pete Seeger actually teaching this song to his audience. So you can learn it from him!

    De colores

    De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera
    De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera
    De colores, de colores es el arco iris que vemos lucir
    Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí
    Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí

    Canta el gallo, canta el gallo con el quiri quiri quiri quiri quiri
    La gallina, la gallina con el cara cara cara cara cara
    Los polluelos, los polluelos con el pío pío pío pío pío pí
    Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí
    Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí

    De colores, de colores brillantes y finos se viste la aurora
    De colores, de colores son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora
    De colores, de colores se viste el diamante que vemos lucir
    Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí
    Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí

    All the Colors
    (English Translation)

    All the colors, all the colors, oh how they dress up the countryside in springtime,
    All the colors, all the colors of birdies, oh how they come back to us outside,
    All the colors, all the colors in rainbows we see shining bright in the sky,
    And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully,
    And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.

    The rooster sings, he sings cock-a-doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle-doo,
    The chicken clucks, she clucks, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck,
    The little chicks they cheep, they cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep,
    And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully,
    And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.

    All the colors, all the great, glowing colors that we see in the sky at sunrise,
    All the colors, all the colors are seen in the thousand reflections in sunlight,
    All the colors, all the colors are seen glittering in a diamond ring,
    And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully,
    And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.

    I tried to keep the translation as close as possible to the original, while making it fit the melody. The biggest liberty I took was in the line “Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí”, which I translated as “And that’s why a great love of the colors makes me feel like singing so joyfully.” A more literal translation would be, “And therefore, the great love of many colors pleases me.” or “And that’s why I like so many colors so much.” -Mama Lisa

    Come visit the De colores Song Page for the French Translation, Sheet music and midi.

    Here’s a street performer in Tijuana, Mexico singing De colores

    Happy Spring to all of you in the Northern Hemisphere and I hope you enjoy the autumn hues if you’re in the Southern hemisphere!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Spanish Song – Yo te daré (I Will Give You) with an MP3

    Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

    Élodie Chebat sent us Yo te daré in Spanish with an mp3 recording. You can hear her sing it below, and read along with the lyrics, followed by an English translation…

    MP3 of Yo te daré

    Yo te daré

    Yo te daré
    Te daré mi hermosa
    Te daré una cosa
    Una cosa que yo sólo sé, café

    I Will Give You
    (English Translation)

    I will give you,
    I will give you my pretty,
    I will give you a thing,
    The only thing I know, coffee.

    Many thanks to Élodie Chebat for contributing this song and for singing it for us, and to Monique Palomares of Mamá Lisa’s World en español for translating it into English.

    Check out the Yo te daré song page for the midi, the score and a French translation.

    Enjoy!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    CD’s with Spanish Songs including Los pollitos

    Thursday, February 26th, 2009

    Adrinel emailed me…

    To whom it may concern:

    I was wondering if you had a CD available to purchase of the children’s nursery rhymes… I was looking for Los pollitos especially..

    Thanks!
    Adrinel

    Below are some CD’s and MP3’s from Amazon I found with Los Pollitos on them. I’m giving the links below to buy the cd’s as regular cd’s (but you can download the whole disc in mp3 form if you’d like). You can listen to samples of all of them before buying…

    CD’s to Buy from Amazon with Los pollitos:

    Los Merenguitos: Canciones Infantiles
    ¡A Bailar! Let’s Dance! (Spanish learning songs for kids/Canciones infantiles)

    MP3’s of Los pollitos – You can also buy single mp3’s of the song:

    Los Pollitos (The Little Chicks) by Elizabeth Mitchell – I like this one a lot!

    Los Merenguitos: El Barquito – El Cartero – Los Pollitos – Patito Patito – MP3 Download for .99 cents
    Los Pollitos (The Little Chicks) – from ¡A Bailar! Let’s Dance! – MP3 Download for .99 cents

    If anyone would like to recommend any other versions of Los pollitos, feel free to in the comments below.

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group

    Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

    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 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…

    Mama Lisa's Facebook Group Badge

    Looking forward to seeing you in Facebook!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Does Anyone Know a Spanish Lullaby about a Bug that Lost its Leg or Wing?

    Saturday, February 21st, 2009

    Sabrina wrote to me looking for help with a Spanish lullaby, possibly from the Dominican Republic…

    Hey Lisa,

    I don’t know if you can help me out. My name is Sabrina, I am 29 years old and I was married to a Dominican man who unfortunately passed away of cancer last year. I am originally from Germany, so my Spanish is rather horrible, also I always wanted to learn this beautiful language…

    I remember my husband singing a Spanish lullaby or children’s song for me from time to time. If I remember right, this song was about a bug/beetle who lost a leg or a wing. Searching for the lyrics and melody of this song through the internet I found your homepage. Can you help me to find this song? I am grateful for every hint or tip.

    Thanks so much, SABRINA.

    If anyone can help with the lyrics to this lullaby, and/or and English translation, and/or the tune, please let us know in the comments below…

    Thanks!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Online Spanish Songs – Recordings and Spanish Lyrics

    Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

    I just found a treasure trove of online recordings of Spanish kids songs and the Spanish lyrics in PDF form in an online book called CANTAR, TOCAR Y JUGAR – Juegos musicales para niños (Sing and Play – Musical Games for Children) by Pilar Posada Saldarriaga.

    Enjoy!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    A Spanish Christmas Carol called Ay del chiquirritín – Oh, The Poor, Little Baby Boy

    Monday, December 22nd, 2008

    I love how this Carol sounds in Spanish. The R’s are a bit challenging to sing – if you’re not a native speaker – at least for me they are!

    Below you’ll find the Spanish lyrics to “Ay del chiquirritín”, followed by an English translation, then an mp3 recording and finally a YouTube video (with slightly different lyrics).

    Enjoy!

    Ay del chiquirritín
    (Spanish Christmas Carol)

    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    metidito entre pajas
    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    queridín, queridito del alma.

    Entre un buey y una mula Dios ha nacido
    y en un pobre pesebre lo han recogido.

    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    metidito entre pajas
    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    queridín, queridito del alma.

    Por debajo del arco del portalico
    se descubre a María, José y el Niño.

    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    metidito entre pajas
    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    queridín, queridito del alma.

    No me mires airado, hijito mío
    mírame con los ojos que yo te miro.

    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    metidito entre pajas
    Ay del chiquirritín chiquirriquitín
    queridín, queridito del alma.

    Oh, The Poor Little Baby Boy
    (English Translation)

    Oh, the poor little baby boy*, little boy,
    Who is lying in the straw
    Oh the poor little baby boy, little boy,
    Darling boy, little darling of our soul.

    Between an ox and a donkey, the Child God was born
    And in a poor manger, they received him.

    Oh, the poor little baby boy, little boy,
    Who is lying in the straw
    Oh the poor little baby boy, little boy,
    Darling boy, little darling of our soul.

    Below the arch of the portal
    We find Mary, Joseph and the Child.

    Oh, the poor little baby boy, little boy,
    Who is lying in the straw
    Oh the poor little baby boy, little boy,
    Darling boy, little darling of our soul.

    Don’t look at me angrily, my dear little one,
    Look at me the same way as I look at you.

    Oh, the poor little baby boy, little boy,
    Who is lying in the straw
    Oh the poor little baby boy, little boy,
    Darling boy, little darling of our soul.

    *The literal translation should be “Woe the little boy”. But that sounded too strong for a current translation so “poor little boy” seems more accurate in modern English.


    MP3 Recording of “Ay del chiquirritín”

    Check out the song page of “Ay del chiquirritín” at Mama Lisa’s World for the French translation, a score and midi.

    Thanks to Monique Palomares for contributing this song and singing this song for us! Translated into English by Monique Palomares and Lisa Yannucci.

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    To Avoid Current Day Food Dyes Would You Eat a Bug?

    Saturday, December 6th, 2008

    I’m trying to work out ways to dye icing that don’t involve food dye. Some of the dyes today are questionable health-wise, but also, I’d like my kids to see that you can do things the old-fashioned way.

    Looking back at old cookbooks, I keep noticing that they used a lot of cochineal powder to dye their icing. It comes out red or pink.

    I thought about trying to use that method myself, but when I read more I discovered something that made me reconsider: Cochineal powder is made of bugs!

    Image of Cochineal Bugs

    Actually, it comes from insects that live on cactus plants. They’re found largely in Mexico, Peru and Spain.

    They were originally introduced to Europe from Mexico in the 16th century. Cochineal insects were likely used in dyes in Mexico as early as the 11th century by the Aztecs.

    I like to be adventurous in my eating, but I don’t know if I’m quite ready for that. I think I’ll try to find alternatives to Cochineal in my search for natural food colorings! I’ll post a link here to my results.

    (But here’s the dirty secret – don’t read this, unless you have a strong stomach! We’re already eating the equivalent of Cochineal all the time. It’s called Carmine Dye. It’s considered a natural food coloring and it’s used in many different types of food! It’s also used in makeup, girls – even some Burt Bee’s Lip Balm has Carmine in it…)

    -Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    A Well-known Spanish Kids Song called “Saw, Saw” with a YouTube Video

    Monday, October 27th, 2008

    Here you can watch some Chilean children singing Aserrín, aserrán – Saw, Saw – a popular Spanish childrens song. Below the video you’ll find the lyrics in Spanish, followed by an English translation.

    Here’s the version of Aserrín, aserrán that the kids are singing…

    Aserrín, aserrán,
    Los maderos de San Juan
    Piden pan,
    No les dan,
    Piden queso
    Le dan hueso
    Piden vino si les dan,
    Se marean y se van, van, van.

    Saw, Saw,
    The woodsmen of San Juan
    Ask for bread,
    They’re given none,
    Ask for cheese,
    They’re given a bone.
    Ask for wine, if they’re given some
    They get sick and go back home.

    Many different versions of this song exist. Below you’ll find links to the lyrics of this song from some other countries, along with directions about how to play the game…

    Aserrín, aserrán from Spain
    Aserrín, aserrán from Peru
    Aserrín, aserrán from Argentina

    Feel free to add the version of Aserrín, aserrán that you know in the comments below. Please let us know which country it’s from.

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Can Someone Help with a Cuban Bedtime Song?

    Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

    Mily wrote:

    Hello,

    I was born in Cuba but grew up in the US. When I was little my mother used to sing a song to me at bedtime and I have been trying to find the complete lyrics but haven’t been able to. The part I remember goes:

    Al reflejo de la palida luna
    En un barco pirata naci
    El oleaje mecia me cuna
    — (can’t remember this line)
    De me padre aprendi

    Yo contaba — (only remember the first part of this line)
    Cuando apenas oi una voz
    Era me padre que en gran agonia
    Entregaba su espiritu a Dios.

    There may be other stanzas but this is all I remember. It would be great if you could find out what the song is called and what all of the lyrics are.

    Thanks,
    Mily Oti

    Here’s a loose English translation of the song:

    In the pale reflection of the moon,
    In a pirate ship I was born
    The waves rocked my cradle.

    I learned from Dad.

    I counted —
    When I barely heard a voice
    There was my father in great agony
    Delivering his spirit to God.

    If anyone can help with the rest of the lyrics to this song, please let us know about them in the comments below.

    Thanks!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    The Itsy Bitsy Spider Around the World

    Monday, October 13th, 2008

    Shirley emailed me looking for different versions of The Itsy Bitsy Spider. Here’s what she wrote:

    I am desperately seeking 3-4-5 versions (songs) of Itsy Bitsy Spider for an around the world float.

    Shame on me I left that chore until last and now I am having trouble. I’ve gotten English and Spanish. Please let me know if this is even remotely possible so I can make other arrangements.

    Thanks Shirley

    These are the ones we have on Mama Lisa’s World (you can click the link to get to the song page and to access the English, French and Spanish translations of the songs):

    Denmark – Lille Peter Edderkop – The Itsy Bitsy Spider
    Mexico – La pequeña araña – The Little Spider
    Mexico – Itzi, bitzi araña – The Itsy Bitsy Spider
    Philippines Ilongo – The Itsy Bitsy Spider – And Dutay Nga Damang
    Spain – Itsy Bitsy Spider – Araña arañita
    USA – The Itsy Bitsy Spider
    France – L’araignée Gypsy – The Gypsy Spider

    If you would like to share the version of The Itsy Bitsy Spider from your country, please feel free to post the lyrics in the comments below or email a recording to me.

    Thanks!

    Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    A Nice Version of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in Spanish

    Friday, October 10th, 2008

    I just learned this Spanish version of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. It’s called Vamos a remar en un botecito (Let’s Go Rowing in a Little Boat). Below you’ll find it in Spanish, with an English translation and the midi tune.

    Listen to the Tune to Row, Row, Row Your Boat

    Vamos a remar en un botecito
    (Spanish)

    Vamos a remar,
    en un botecito,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    en un botecito.

    Vamos a volar,
    en un avioncito,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    en un avioncito.

    Vamos a pasear,
    en un cochecito,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    rápido,
    en un cochecito.

    Let’s Go Rowing in a Little Boat
    (English Translation)

    Let’s go rowing,
    In a little boat,
    Rapidly,
    Rapidly
    Rapidly,
    Rapidly,
    In a little boat.

    Let’s go flying
    In a little plane
    Rapidly,
    Rapidly
    Rapidly,
    Rapidly,
    In a little plane.

    Let’s go driving
    In a little car
    Rapidly,
    Rapidly
    Rapidly,
    Rapidly,
    In a little car.

    Many thanks to Andrea Giráldez for sending us this song. If anyone would like to sing it for us, please email me.

    Visit the Vamos a remar en un botecito song page for the French Translation of this song.

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Columbus Day and El Día de la Raza – The Day of Our Races

    Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

    In the United States Columbus Day is celebrated this month on the second Monday of October . It commemorates the landing of Columbus in the Bahamas on October 12th, 1492. It was the first lasting contact between the Europeans and the indigenous people of the American continents. (It wasn’t the first contact since Vikings are believed to have landed in Newfoundland in the 11th century – in what is now the East coast of Canada).

    Though Spain paid for his voyage, Columbus is believed to have been born in Italy. Columbus Day was first celebrated by Italian immigrants in the United States. In 1937, Franklin D. Roosevelt made it an official holiday.

    Since then, many people in the US were taught as young children in school that Columbus’ voyage was a positive thing. We learnt about the ships he sailed with: the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. It was the beginning of western civilization in this part of the world. We were basically taught that this was positive, since it’s what led to us living here.

    Today there is some controversy that surrounds the holiday. There are many Native American Indian populations that don’t view Christopher Columbus’ voyage in a favorable light. The westerners brought disease and warfare to their people.

    Many of the settlers from Spain intermarried with indigenous people who lived in the Americas. Today, many Hispanic people have a mixed heritage. That’s why they celebrate El Día de la Raza (The Day of Our Races), instead of Columbus Day. It’s a celebration of their indigenous roots.

    In the 21th century, there’s no reason why a celebration of Columbus Day can’t include celebrations of the cultures that existed here before Christopher Columbus set foot in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492.

    Here’s a link to some Mexican Songs for El Día de la Raza – in Spanish only.

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Spanish Columbus Day Poem

    Saturday, October 4th, 2008

    Here’s a Columbus Day poem in Spanish by Elena Gloria Ferral, followed by an English translation…

    A Cristobal Colón
    (Spanish)

    Del puerto de Palos
    partió Colón,
    con tres carabelas
    y un gran corazón.

    Soñaba con tierras
    lejanas tal vez,
    adonde llevarles
    su amor y su fe.

    Un doce de octubre
    a ellas llegó
    y en nombre de España
    tomó posesión.

    To Christopher Columbus
    (English Translation)

    From Palos harbor
    Columbus left
    with three caravels
    and a big heart.

    He dreamed of
    faraway lands perhaps,
    where he could bring
    his love and faith.

    A 12th of October
    he reached them,
    and on behalf of Spain
    he claimed them.

    Many thanks to Monique Palomares from Mamá Lisa’s World en español for contributing this poem. Translated by Monique (with a little help from Mama Lisa).

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Multicultural Songs about the Seasons

    Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

    People often write me looking for songs about the four seasons, from around the world. Here are some! The links below take you to the different pages on Mama Lisa’s World of International Childrens Songs. There, you’ll find the lyrics in the original languages, with English translations.

    Songs about Winter

    Yuki (Snow) – Japanese
    A, a, a, der Winter, der ist da (A, a, a, Winter is Here) – German
    La neige tombe (The Snow is Falling) – French from Canada
    Zemestoon (Winter) – Persian from Iran
    Kış (Winter) – Turkish from Turkey

    Songs about Spring

    La Primavera (Springtime) – Spanish from Peru
    Haru Ga Kita (Spring Has Come) – Japanese
    De Colores (All the Colors) – Spanish from Mexico & Spain

    Songs about Summer

    Trarira, der Sommer, der ist da! (Tilitum, The Summer Has Come) – German

    Songs about Autumn or Fall

    Couleurs d’automne (Colors of Autumn) – French

    Songs or Rhymes about All Four Seasons

    Joereszäiten (Seasons) – Franconian from Lorraine Region in France
    Les feuilles (Leaves) – French from Canada

    When you get to the song pages you can access French and Spanish translations too, and in some cases mp3 recordings, midis and/or scores.

    Feel free to add a song about any of the seasons in the comments below or email me.

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Does Anyone Know of a Script for a Las Posadas Play for Christmastime?

    Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

    B. Telford wrote:

    I am teaching in a private religious school and we would like to do a Las Posadas play for Christmas. (grades Pk-3 through 5th grade) Does anyone out there have any suggestions of plays already written that are approximately 20 – 30 minutes long? I know very little of Las Posadas and would like this to be an exciting learning experience for our children. I have found only 2 or 3 songs and no scripts, HELP!

    If anyone can help out with any suggestions, please comment below. The play can be in Spanish and/or English.

    Thanks in advance!

    Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    ________

    Copyright ©2009 by Lisa Yannucci. All rights reserved.
    Advertisements