Here’s a cool version of Five Little Turkeys with the lyrics so you can learn it in time for Thanksgiving… Five Little Turkeys Five little turkeys standing at the door, One waddled off, and then there were four. Four little turkeys sitting near a tree, One waddled off, and...

I recently read “Games for Hallow-e’en” by Mary F. Blain (1912). In her book, Blain tells how to throw a Halloween Party. Though you must keep in mind that it’s from the perspective of almost a century ago. I like her description of Halloween: Hallow-e’en or Hallow-Even is the last night of October, being...

Guest Blogger, Ed Gawlinski, has been involved in many cultural organizations throughout his life. The season of Lent has started. Lent is a season during which Christians prepare for Easter. The English custom is to start Lent by having pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday). A children’s rhyme goes...

Here’s a nice little traditional rhyme for you… Little Robin Redbreast Sat upon a tree, I wish you a merry Christmas It’s a greeting from me. With apples to eat, Nuts to crack, I wish you a merry Christmas With a big rat-a-tat. -Lisa

Hugues Bernet is a teacher in a school in France where the Occitan language and culture are taught. (Occitan is a language spoken in parts of southern France, Spain and Italy. It was the language of the troubadours.) Hugues wrote to me about a custom they follow in his school at Christmastime. It...

Here’s a fingerplay about rabbits for Easter… Easter Rabbits Five little Easter rabbits (Hold up all 5 fingers ) Sitting by the door, One hopped away, And then there were four. (Bend down one finger) Refrain Hop, hop, hop, hop, (Clap each time you say hop) See how they run! Hop, hop, hop, hop, (Clap each time you say hop) They think it is great...

Everyone who grows up speaking English knows Roses Are Red. But you may not be familiar with all the versions there are. Of course, there’s the one that’s most well known and that basically sounds like a cliché… Roses are red, Violets are blue, Sugar is sweet, And so are you! Then there’s the following one, which...

Groundhog Day, the popular American holiday, has its roots in the European holiday Candlemas. Both seem to have developed from an ancient Celtic festival called Imbolc. Imbolc festivities involved lighting fires, in part in honor of Brigid, the Goddess of fertility, love and fire. Imbolc also celebrated the fact that the days would...

I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing By I saw three ships come sailing by, Come sailing by, come sailing by. I saw three ships come sailing by, On New Year’s Day in the morning. And what do you think was in them then? Was in them then, was in them then? And what do you think was in them then, On New Year’s...

Here are two old nursery rhymes related to the New Year… He who is born on New Year’s morn Will have his own way as sure as you were born. *** Married when the year is new, He’ll be loving, kind and true. *** Here’s a quote from Ben Franklin about the New Year… Be at war with your vices, at peace with...

Here are some Mother Goose rhymes about December… Chill December brings the sleet, Blazing fire and Christmas treat! ___ When December snow falls fast, Marry, and true love will last. ___ The north wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And what will poor Robin do then? Poor thing. He’ll sit in a barn, And keep himself warm, And hide his head under his wing. Poor thing. ___ More nursery...