At the End of the Feast is an "End of Christmas" Carol from England lamenting the end of holiday festivities.  I find it to be humorous! This song is also called A Carol for the 12th Day and was first printed in New Christmas Carols in 1642.  It can also be found in Notes and Queries...

The Coventry Carol dates back to 16th century England.  It was originally part of a play that was performed in Coventry.  The rest of the play has been lost, but this song was so memorable that people kept singing it. The story behind the song comes from The Gospel of Mathew in the Bible.  It’s the...

Daria (a children’s performer) wrote to me about her husband’s experience as a child in Greece at Christmas time.  Here’s what she wrote: "My husband grew up in Greece and loves to remember caroling with a triangle during the Christmas season. He and his brothers and sisters would go door to door and even on the...

The First Noël (also called The First Nowell) is from the 18th century or earlier.  There are several versions.  This version comes from Carols, New and Old (1871).  Here are the lyrics followed by a video… 1. The first Nowell the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as...

"Up on the Housetop" was written by American Benjamin Hanby in 1864.  It was one of the first Christmas songs in English about St. Nick.  Here are the lyrics with a YouTube video… Up on the Housetop Up on the housetop, reindeer pause, Out jumps good ol’ Santa Claus. ...

St. Nicholas is very popular in Germany! There are various traditions of St Nick there, depending on the region.  In some places he walks from house to house giving treats.  In other places children leave out their polished shoes and boots to be filled with treats and gifts in the middle of the night of December...

Here are some finger plays about Santa’s reindeer for young children.  You’ll find below two versions of "Five Little Reindeer" with YouTube videos showing how to do the finger plays.  Then you can watch the "Ten Little Reindeers" song sung to the tune of "Ten Little Indians".  Finally, there’s a rhyme called "Santa’s Reindeers." Enjoy! Mama Lisa Five...

Our first Kindle book, Mama Lisa’s Christmas Around the World, is now available on Amazon for just $2.99! Learn how this joyful season is celebrated across the globe. Featuring traditions, songs and personal stories! People everywhere love Christmas – but we don’t all celebrate it the same way. Mama Lisa’s Christmas Around The World is a...

Lindsey wrote asking for help with a Swedish song called "The Herdsman Song": I saw your website and thought you might be able to help me.  I am a teacher writing lesson plans for an old novel entitled, "They Came From Sweden: Sod House Winter."  It is by Clara Ingram Judson.  It is about a Swedish...

It’s Christmas all around the world! Here are links to Christmas carols, rhymes, poems, crafts and recipes from across the globe. Feel free to share your favorite Christmas recipe, song or rhyme with us by emailing me or commenting below. Merry Christmas! Mama Lisa

My Leg Hurts, La cambo me fai mau, is a well-known Provençal Christmas carol sung in the south of France. It was originally written by Micolau Sabòli (1614 – 1675) in Occitan, the language of the Troubadours. This is not a typical carol! It’s about a pilgrimage to see the new-born Jesus. ...

Every December, our town puts up little Christmas trees throughout the village.  Then they let different local organizations decorate them.  The organizations are things like Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops, the town stores, etc. Then, during the first week of the month, there’s a Menorah lighting and a Christmas Tree lighting.  Above you...

Who’s That Up the Chimney? is a Christmas song written by Scottish singer Ewan McVicar.  Ewan sent this song to us when we asked him if he knew of any Christmas songs from Scotland.  Here’s what he wrote: I was on a tram in the Urals city of Perm (Russia), and the teacher conveying me said...