Spain | Mama Lisa's World Blog

Archive for the 'Spain' Category

Posts

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

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Jeringonza 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

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Alfabeto Farfallino, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, English, Games, Italian, Italy, Jeringonza, Languages, P Language, Pig Latin, Portuguese, Puerto Rico, Spain, Spanish, Uruguay, Venezuela | 3 Comments »

Link of Spanish Kids CD’s

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

I stumbled upon this page today: a list of some musicians who have recorded children’s music in Spanish.

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in CD's, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Educational Sites, Language Sites, Languages, Music, Recommendations, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs, USA | 1 Comment »

Salvador Dali and Disney’s Animation called Destino

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Imagine eccentric Dali, in his black cape, working with Walt Disney! The two did come together briefly on a short film project in 1946, called Destino. For unknown reasons, it wasn’t completed at the time. The artwork Dali originally composed for the movie was purchased by Disney a few years ago. In 2001, work began on the making of an animation based on Dali’s original artwork. It was completed in 2003.

There were photocopies of the storyboards of the beginning and end of the animation that Dali had worked on. But the middle of the story wasn’t totally worked out on paper. To make the completed animation, in addition to using Dali’s artwork for the project, Disney relied on a journal Dali’s wife had been keeping that detailed Dali’s plans for the piece. They also used a 3D model of Dali’s painting The Tower of Babel to give the animation more depth.

Originally, the film was going to include live people interposed with animations. According to an article on the Disney site (that has since been taken down), Dali was going to be in the film. He would have been working at an easel at one point, and an actor was going to ask him the meaning of the imagery in his works… such as the “melting” clocks. I found what Dali was going to respond to be very interesting:

“What you see here are just symbols. Surrealism is like a new language. Every object means something other than what it naturally appears to be. This watch, for instance — it symbolizes the relativity of time. Depending on the circumstances, in love for instance, one minute of waiting may seem like a thousand years…or an hour may pass as quickly as if it were a few seconds. The time of human being is different than mechanical time. It’s flexible and viscous, like the time in dreams.”

I thought that bit of dialog nicely elucidates Dali’s work and certainly the meaning of the clocks in his paintings.

The music in the animation is an adaptation of a ballad by Mexican songwriter Armando Dominguez. It was sung by Dora Luz.

Here’s a trailer from the animation…

Here’s a trailer of the strangest part of the animation…

You can see other clips of Destino and the whole animation by typing in “Dali and Disney” into YouTube. A higher quality version is coming out soon on DVD.

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Animation, Countries & Cultures, Destino, Disney, Mama Lisa, Movies & TV, People, Salvador Dali, Spain, USA, Video, YouTube | 2 Comments »

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:

Posted in American Kids Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, El señor don Gato, El señor don Gato, English, Folk Songs, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Recordings of Songs, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Folk Songs, Spanish Kids Songs, USA | No Comments »

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:

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

•MY MOTHER. - A Poem

•Does Anyone Know Any Mothers Day songs or poems in Romanian?

•Mother's Day in Mexico with a Spanish Song

•Only One Mother - A Poem

•A Mother's Day Poem That Kids Recite in France

•"My Mother" a Victorian Poem

•Hold a Concert in Your House - Another Way to Make Music a Part of Your Family's Life

•A Hebrew Song for Mother's Day called "Mommy, Precious to Me"

•A Bolivian Song about May in Spanish with an English Translation

•A Mothers' Day Song and Rhyme in Spanish with English Translations

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mama Lisa

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, English, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Mother's Day Poems, Mothers Day, Nicaragua, Peru, Poems, Poetry, Spain, Spanish, USA, Venezuela | No Comments »

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:

Posted in Bilingual Music, CD's, Children's Songs, Childrens Music, Countries & Cultures, English, Languages, Languages, Learning, Mexico, Music, Recommendations, Roots Music, Sites about Music, Spain, Spanish, USA, YouTube | No Comments »

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!

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:

Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, Children's Songs, Chile, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, De colores, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, English, Folk Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Mexican Children's Songs, Mexican Folk Songs, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Folk Songs, Spanish Kids Songs, USA, Venezuela, YouTube | No Comments »

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:

Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, Children's Songs, Chile, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, English, Great Britain, Holidays Around the World, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Peru, Recordings of Songs, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela | 4 Comments »

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:

Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, CD's, Children's Songs, Chile, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Questions, Readers Questions, Recommendations, Recordings of Songs, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs, USA, Venezuela | No Comments »

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…

Looking forward to seeing you in Facebook!

Mama Lisa

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Acadia, Amish, Andorra, Apache, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bali Tribes, Bangladesh, Basque, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brittany, Bulgaria, Burgundy, Cajun, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Catalan, Children's Songs, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Customs, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Eskimo, Finland, Flanders, France, French Polynesia, Friesland, Gabrielinos, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Haiti, Hawaii, Hinduism, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Inuit, Iran, Ireland, Iroquois, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mama Lisa, Martinique, Mauritius, Maya, Mexico, Morocco, Muslim, N. Ireland, Native American Indian, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Norway, Occitan, Ojibway, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Picardy, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Questions, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sumer, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuareg, Tunisia, Turkey, USA, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Wallis and Futuna, West Indies, Zaire, Zimbabwe | 1 Comment »

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:

Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, Children's Songs, Chile, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, Dominican Children's Songs, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Languages, Lullabies, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Questions, Readers Questions, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs, Spanish Lullabies, USA, Venezuela | 1 Comment »

Can Anyone Help with a Spanish or Italian Song Called “Bella Mama”?

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

Tiffany 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, TX

I’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

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Countries & Cultures, Italian, Italy, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, Spain, Spanish, Traditional Music | 6 Comments »

Pili’s Spanish Language Podcast

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Guest blogger, Monique Palomares works with me on Mamá Lisa’s World en español. Monique grew up in a multilingual family in southern France. Spanish is one of the languages she spoke growing up.

If your parents or grandparents had a different mother tongue from yours and if you lived your childhood in such a multicultural context, you sure know how I feel.

I was happy when in August 2007, Pili, a Spanish student of Fine Arts in Salamanca, Spain, posted a comment on this blog to tell us about her podcast. It aimed to help improve people’s abilities in the Spanish language.

I listened to Pili’s podcasts as they came out. Throughout the podcasts, Pili would tell her American friend Lucy about her life in Spain.

I particularly enjoyed…

-Her stories about Spanish cultural events like La San Fermín in Pamplona, and hearing about customs like eating tapas, and learning about Spanish movies.
-The fact that she would speak clearly and a little more slowly than the very fast Spanish speech you normally hear.
-The fact that she now and again used colloquial idioms (not naughty ones!) that you might not find in dictionaries and that keep your language up-to-date.

Pili posted until December 2007 and her old podcasts are still available on her site.

Now she’s coming back with a renewed version including free podcasts and more extended material that’s available by subscription. You can check the guide to the podcasts on her website dpili.com , it’s in pdf format, so you can download it for free!

Well, to make a long story short, I’m glad she’s back.

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Countries & Cultures, Language Sites, Languages, Podcasts, Recommendations, Spain, Spanish | No Comments »

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:

Posted in Bolivia, Children's Songs, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Language Sites, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Recommendations, Recordings of Songs, Sites about Music, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs, USA, Venezuela | 8 Comments »

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:

Posted in Ay del chiquirritín, Bolivia, Chile, Christmas, Christmas MP3's, Christmas Songs, Colombia, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, English, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Recordings of Songs, Spain, Spanish, USA, Venezuela, YouTube | 1 Comment »

A Food Sculpture à la Miro

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

This week is a lesson in how creative food can look! Below is a photo of an edible version of Miro’s sculpture “Dona i ocell” (Lady and Bird) that’s in Barcelona, Spain. Monique in France saw this food sculpture at a holiday party. The second photo is of the actual sculpture in Barcelona.

Check out the Cupcake Tree photo I posted the other day.

Many thanks to Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français for sharing this photo with us.

-Mama Lisa

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Countries & Cultures, Desserts, Food & Nutrition, Food Sculptures, France, Holidays Around the World, Mama Lisa, Recipes of the World, Spain, USA | No Comments »

Peruvian Christmas Carol – Ya viene el Niñito

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Here’s the Peruvian Christmas Carol – Ya viene el Niñito – “Here Comes Baby Jesus”. First you’ll find a YouTube rendition of it by children in Loja – Ecuador (South America), followed by the lyrics in Spanish and then an English translation…

Ya viene el Niñito

Ya viene el Niñito jugando entre flores
Y los pajaritos le cantan amores
Ya se despertaron los pobres pastores
Y le van llevando pajitas y flores
La paja esta fría la cama está dura
La Virgen María llora con ternura

Ya nomás se caen todas las estrellas
A los pies del niño, más lindo que ellas
Niñito bonito, manojo de flores
Llora pobrecito por los pecadores.

Here’s a rhyming translation I did in English based on a literal translation by Monique Palomares…

Here comes Baby Jesus playing among the flowers
And the birdies sing him love songs from the bowers
The poor shepherds awoke at an early hour
So they could bring him straw and flowers
The bed is hard, the straw is cold,
The Virgin Mary cries tenderly, behold.

Now all of the stars in the sky descend
At the baby’s feet, he’s prettier than them.
Bunch of flowers, beautiful son,
Cries for sinners, poor little one.

Many thanks to Armando Vertiz Cayo for contributing this song.

Here are some recent holiday music posts you might enjoy…

Yiddish version of Oh, Chanukah with YouTube video and lyrics
English Video of Oh Chanukah with lyrics
Video and Lyrics of Willie Take Your Little Drum
Patapan video in French with Lyrics and Translation
Good King Wenceslas with lyrics, back-story and video
Short Holiday Jazz Animation

Share on Facebook and other services:

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, Ecuador, English, Great Britain, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Mama Lisa, Peru, Spain, Spanish, Venezuela, Ya viene el Niñito, YouTube | 2 Comments »

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!

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:

Posted in Cooking with Kids, Countries & Cultures, Food & Nutrition, Food Coloring, Food and Nutrition, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Parenting, Peru, Spain, USA | 4 Comments »

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:

Posted in Argentinean Children's Songs, Bolivia, Bolivian Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Chile, Costa Rica, Costa Rican Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Dominican Republic, Games, Languages, Mama Lisa, Mexican Children's Songs, Mexico, Peru, Peruvian Children's Songs, Puerto Rico, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs, USA, Venezuela, Video, YouTube | 1 Comment »

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:

Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, Languages, Lullabies, Mexico, Questions, Readers Questions, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs | 12 Comments »

Blog Home

This is the Spain Archive Page

Categories

My Tweets

Archive for the 'Spain' Category

Contents

Posts

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

Link of Spanish Kids CD’s

Salvador Dali and Disney’s Animation called Destino

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?

Can Anyone Help with a Spanish or Italian Song Called “Bella Mama”?

Pili’s Spanish Language Podcast

Online Spanish Songs – Recordings and Spanish Lyrics

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

A Food Sculpture à la Miro

Peruvian Christmas Carol – Ya viene el Niñito

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?