Rida, Rida Ranka is a rhyme and song known to many in Scandinavia and to the families of Scandinavian immigrants in the US. Lance N. Peterson wrote to me of its significance to his family. (I added links below to the versions of Rida, rida ranka he talks about.) Dear Lisa: Words are what we...

I got these questions over two days, so I figured I may as well post them together… 1) The first question is from Dr. Mike Mruzik who’s trying to help his Mom: Hello, Any assistance (with the question below) would be appreciated… Thanks -Dr. Mike Mruzik Here’s the letter from Mike’s mother: This is what I remember of the song that...

Lori wrote: Dear Mama Lisa, I am so excited to find this website because I have been searching for many years to find out about two Danish or Swedish nursery rhymes (you can listen to them by clicking the link). My mother’s beloved grandfather, Lars Christensen, used to bounce her on his knee and recite these...

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...

Tim wrote: Can anyone help with a Danish Nursery Rhyme called “Madiesen”? I am unsure about the spelling. Apparently it is about a young boy riding a pig and falling through the ice. Thanks, Tim If anyone can help with the Danish lyrics, and/or an English translation, please comment below. Thanks! Lisa

I’ve been asked twice in the past week for free multilingual books. Here’s a link I found called Books in Multiple Languages. They have English children’s books with translations in Spanish, French, Polish, Italian, Romanian, German, Chinese, Finnish, Swedish, Maori, Greek, Dutch, Farsi (Persian), Afrikaans, Croatian, Turkish, Russian, Japanese, Ukrainian, Portuguese, Arabic, Hebrew,...

Doug wrote: Mama Lisa, I am in USA but our family still sings a song called hun ska leve. This is a traditional Danish song. Does anyone know where to get lyrics and music for this traditional song? Please let me know. Thanks, Doug Hansen If anyone can help out with this song, please comment below or email me. Thanks! -Lisa

While I have this link at hand, I’d like to recommend www.freedict.com. It’s a site devoted to free online language dictionaries. You can translate between English and the following languages: Afrikaans Danish Dutch Finnish French Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Latin Norwegian Portuguese Russian Spanish Swahili Swedish I find that it can usually succeed at translating the words I need. Feel free to recommend other language dictionaries that you like in the...

Julie and Beth wrote looking for the origins of two Scandinavian rhymes that are played with little kids while touching their toes. We’re wondering if anyone’s ever heard of these rhymes and perhaps knows what country they’re from and/or anything else about their origins. Here’s what Julie wrote: I have been searching for the...

Here’s a question I received about a game played with a pepper nut cookie called pfeffernüsse, pfeffenusse or pebernodder… I have no idea if that is the way you spell it, but it is a little spicy cookie, shaped like a ball and about the size of a pea. I think it might have originated...

David wrote me looking for a song. In the process of trying to find it, I learned a little about The Sandman. It all started when David wrote me… I REMEMBER THIS SONG WHEN I WAS A CHILD. ALL I REMEMBER IS: THE LITTLE OLEY WITH HIS UMBRELLA HE COMES ON TIPTOES THIS FRIENDLY FELLOW THAT IS ALL...

Pamela wrote me about a rhyme that I’ve been asked about many times. Here’s what she wrote… Hello, I am interested in finding a nursery rhyme in the Danish language which I learned as a child and have passed on to my children as well. I hope you can help me locate this rhyme. ...

Bill wrote me… Perhaps you can suggest a source for me to confirm or renew a bit of Danish folklore that came from my mother. Mom’s mother had been a farmer girl near Haderslav in Schleswig-Holstein, and (around 1910) taught mom a finger game poem. One counts off the fingers, from thumb, index finger, on through small...